Sexual harassment at the workplace has existed ever since women entered the workforce. In today’s work environment where women are active members of the workplace, greater attention is drawn towards this issue. Sexual harassment does not only affect the victim, but it affects the overall health of the organization. Companies may experience higher turnover, lower productivity, and lower levels of commitment as a result of sexual harassment. The aforementioned consequences affect the competitiveness of the company in the long run and may also damage the image of the company.
The courts and the legal system have passed legislations that protect minority groups at the workplace. Conscientious employers may take the legislations seriously, and ensure that any inappropriate practice is immediately reversed. If the employer is ignorant about the hostile workplace environment then he is held responsible. The article presents support for affirmative action which suggests that employers have to take corrective actions in accordance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.
The Human Resource Department is not restricted towards hiring and firing employees rather they are increasingly involved in protecting the worker’s rights. Employees should be aware of the EEOC and should be well-informed about their rights at the workplace. According to the article, if employees are aware of their rights and confidentiality of their complaints they would report any inappropriate behavior. The article also suggests that if employers do not take corrective action against sexual harassment then other forms of harassment may have the same negative consequences in the long run. The chapter simply states the various laws and legislations supporting several kinds of discrimination; whereas, the article provides evidence of how discrimination may affect organizations.
Works Cited
"Sexual Harassment in the Workplace." National Women's Law Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 June 2014. <http://www.nwlc.org/resource/sexual-harassment-workplace>.
Zugelder, Michael T., Paul J. Champagne, and Steven D. Maurer. "Dealing with Harassment in All of its Forms." J. Individual Employment Rights 12.3 (2007): 223-238. Print.
