Would you take it as sexual harassment?

Question

your 2 male co-workers are discussing other female co-workers. those girls are your frineds and youre always with them. you are sitting close and hear them. they talk about how attractive they are and how hot their body is etc. and how sexually dessireable they are (not necessarily vulgur language)

normally this would be taken as INDIRECT sexual harassment by the woman who is listening.

but i think she gets upset more becaus she gets anxious and inseucre that the men have completely ignored her presense and havent even mentioned her name even though she exists among them. this can clearly affect a persons work but its not seuxal harassment.

i think the woman should feel lucky that atlest the guys didnt discuss her !!

but its not that way. some people especially if they are unattractive would in such situations more likely to raise a cry of sexual harassment. they want to be discussed deep down.

how would you feel if some men dicuss all your frinds but you?

Answer 1

The thing about sexual harrassment is impact versus intent.  It may be that the woman is jealous, or it may be that she is truly offended, who would really know, but the female in question?  If someone discussed all my friends and not me I wouldn't give a d**n.  My husband thinks I'm fine as h**l, so what other men think I really don't give a d**n.  I am one of those women who brush off a lot of things.  I have never felt sexually harrassed by comments that I have heard.  But I have felt sexual harrasment when someone has put their hands on me, but I would usually address the issue on the spot and it wouldn't happen again.  I think you have a point, that some women would say sexual harrasment for just the h**l of it, but some have valid points.

Answer 2

Just do what I do.  Keep the work talk safe to protect myself.

These harassment laws give all the power to the offended person, whether she listens in on a private conversation or not.  It is hard to speak openly at work these days, let alone get into a relationship.  It is entirely possible to get into a work-place relationship, and the very existence of that relationship can be grounds for someone else to file a complaint.  This is unless it is entirely conducted out of work hours and not at a "works outing" either, like drinks after work: that can still be legally held to be a workplace situatuion in many places.

Unfortunately, you cannot be considered to have a right to privacy for a conversation that is in the workplace.  Even in the staff toilets.

You might also find it more likely to have girls talking this way than blokes, but that usually is regarded as less of an issue, by both males and females.  Funny how that works.....

Wow, a thumbs down already: that was quick.  I wonder how I earned that one.......

Answer 3

Well, if they know I'm sitting close, I figure they are either:

A. doing it to get my attention,

B. pressing buttons in general, or

C. simply discussing how attractive someone is.

Or it could be all of the above.

No it's not sexual harassment to have a discussion about it. But if they talked lewdly about the women then it is (using expletives). The woman NOT discussed could be miffed that she's not included, sure. I'm sure some gals have the "what about me?" thing.

Answer 4

I'd take this as eavesdropping and I'd tell this person to stop listening into others conversations and mind her own business

Answer 5

Yes, it meets with the definition of sexual harassment because the behavior creates an "... offensive working...environment".  Its intimidating too.  I think it might also create a hostile environment.  Yep, sure would.

Probably all three but for arguments sake lets just say your behavior meets the general criteria for 'sexual harassment'.

   Here is just one example of an institutional anti- sexual harassment policy:

"UCLA policy defines sexual harassment as follows: Sexual harassment is unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects a person's employment or education, unreasonably interfered with a person's work or educational performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment."

Your offensive behavior is grounds for dismissal.

*If you didn't get it the first time, re-read my post.  You are gossiping, you are goofing off on company time.  Your behavior is affecting not just your own productivity, but that of other staff members - many of them.  All this affects the organisation's 'bottom line'.  If you keep it up you will be fired.  You can be fired on several grounds.   Its really that simple.

The picture your boss sees will be your true 'essence of things'.