What is Quid Pro Quo Harassment?
In a South Florida workplace, unlawful harassment can result in significant harm to the targeted job applicant or employee, as well as to the morale of the general working environment. One type of harassment that is commonly associated with sexual harassment in the workplace is known as “quid pro quo” harassment. What does this type of harassment entail, and what do you need to know about filing a claim? One of the experienced Palm Beach Gardens sexual harassment lawyers at Sconzo Law Office can provide you with more information, and we can speak with you today about any concerns involving sexual harassment in the workplace.
Defining “Quid Pro Quo” Harassment
The term “quid pro quo” translates roughly to “one thing for another,” or “something for something” in Latin. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the definition of this type of harassment generally means a situation in which “submission to or rejection of unwelcome sexual conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual.” In other words, a job applicant or an employee who is the target of quid pro quo sexual harassment would be “offered job benefits in return for sexual favors,” according to Forbes.
Quid pro quo sexual harassment is a form of unlawful harassment that violates the prohibitions against sex discrimination in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That prohibition against sex discrimination includes a prohibition against sexual harassment in employment.
Common Examples of Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment
Quid pro quo sexual harassment can range from the offer of additional benefits in exchange for sexual favors (such as an offer for a raise or promotion if the employee agrees to sexual favors), to a request that the employee agree to sexual favors in exchange for the “benefit” of keeping their job. The following are some common examples of quid pro quo harassment:
- You can get this job you are applying for if you agree to go on a date with me or to engage in sexual acts with me;
- If you go on a date with me, you can have a raise or a better schedule;
- If you agree to hug me or kiss me, or perform other sexual acts, you can have a raise or a better schedule, or a promotion; or
- You will only be able to keep your job if you agree to perform certain sexual acts or you agree to go on a date with me (i.e., the sexual request is a condition of continued employment).
Quid pro quo harassment can also take numerous other forms. The above examples are just some ways that quid pro quo harassment can occur. In order for quid pro quo harassment to be actionable under the law, it must be perpetrated by a person in a supervisory position — a manager, a supervisor, a boss, or a related figure.
Contact a Palm Beach Gardens Sexual Harassment Lawyer
If you have any questions or concerns about sexual harassment in your workplace, or if you need to find out more about your options for filing a sexual harassment claim, a lawyer can help you. An experienced Palm Beach Gardens sexual harassment attorney at Sconzo Law Office can speak with you today to learn more about the details of your case, and we can provide you with more information about your options for filing a claim. Contact us today for help with your case.
Sources:
eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/policy-guidance-employer-liability-under-title-vii-sexual-favoritism
eeoc.gov/harassment
forbes.com/sites/quora/2023/06/08/what-is-quid-pro-quo-harassment/