Male victims of sexual harassment

Posted in Sexual Harassment of Men on January 4, 2017

When people imagine a “typical” sexual harassment situation in a workplace, it usually involves a male harassing a female.

What doesn’t usually come to mind is a situation in which a female is the harasser – or a situation in which a male harasses another male. It is important to remember that sexual harassment can be initiated by a man or a woman. In any case it is wrong, and should not be tolerated in the workplace.

In a recent case, a male police officer in Michigan accused his female superior of workplace sexual harassment. He accused her of propositioning him and making sexually inappropriate comments.

Male-on-male sexual harassment is also a growing problem. This type of harassment (in which a man is harassed by another man or group of men) occurs in both white and blue collar workplaces, including construction sites, warehouses, and schools.

Although women more frequently report sexual harassment at work, men also come forward. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 16.3 percent of sexual harassment claims filed in 2011 were by men.

No matter what gender the victim is, sexual harassment is wrong and illegal. Employers are legally obligated to address and stop the behavior – but this does not always happen. Victims need to be aware of their legal rights and options. A victim may be eligible for significant compensation.

If you have experienced sexual harassment at work – or if you have been demoted or retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment – talk to an experienced attorney about your case. Call (510) 433-1000 to schedule your free, confidential consultation.