An employee, Jordan, works in an office where colleagues frequently tell sexually explicit jokes and have calendars with suggestive images on their desks. Jordan feels uncomfortable and finds it difficult to concentrate on work. Despite mentioning this discomfort, the behavior continues. Which of the following best explains why this situation would be classified as creating a hostile environment?

An employee, Alex, works in an office where colleagues frequently tell sexually suggestive jokes and display a calendar with risqué images in a common area. This has been occurring for several months. When Alex mentioned feeling uncomfortable to a manager, the manager replied, 'That's just how the team is; you should try to fit in.' Based on this scenario, determine if the conditions for a hostile work environment have been met and justify your conclusion by identifying the specific elements from the case that support your reasoning.

Workplace Environment Assessment

Hostile environment sexual harassment occurs when an employee experiences workplace conditions that are hostile or intimidating, such as a work environment that allows offensive language or jokes or displays sexually explicit images. Isolated occurrences of these events do not constitute harassment, but a pattern of repeated occurrences does.

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Workplace sexual harassment can include quid pro quo harassment, threats to withhold rewards when sexual requests are refused, and hostile environment harassment.

Types of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Quid pro quo sexual harassment refers to situations in which organizational rewards are offered in exchange for sexual favors. It often occurs between an employee and a person with greater power in the organization, such as when a supervisor requests an action like a kiss or a touch in exchange for a promotion, positive performance review, or pay raise.

Sexual Harassment: Quid Pro Quo

Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment

A threat to withhold a workplace reward can be a form of sexual harassment when the threat is made because a sexual request is refused.

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