With 65% of workers looking for different jobs, you don’t want workplace sexual harassment to cause your employees to leave. But if you’re not sure what harassment looks like, it might be hard to take the right action. That’s why it’s critical for you and your employees to be aware — and act on complaints.

Read on to learn what kinds of behavior constitute sexual harassment at work!

What Is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment includes a range of behaviors. What ties them together is that they are sexually suggestive and create a hostile workplace.

Sexual harassment can come from coworkers, managers, or clients. And the unwelcome behavior may target one individual or harm an entire group.

There are non-sexual forms of harassment that can be disruptive in the workplace, too. Comments or gestures that disparage someone’s race, ethnicity, or culture are forms of harassment in the workplace.

Further, agist remarks dismiss someone due to age. And notes that are dismissing someone due to a disability qualify as workplace harassment.

But sexual harassment has sexual overtones that may make the victim feel unable to work comfortably. Comments, gestures, or requests are among the common forms of sexual harassment.

Watch for Suggestive Notes

Sending sexually suggestive notes via email or in-person qualifies as sexual harassment. The notes might be romantic in nature and complement an individual on their physical appearance or clothing.

For instance, a colleague might indicate unprovoked admiration for someone’s appearance. They could comment on how a low-cut top accentuates a colleague’s figure in a handwritten note.

Or, as another example, an email might comment on someone’s physique or stunning features. These are the types of comments that can make an individual feel as if they are being watched — and under pressure to respond.

And some letters or notes can go even further. An invitation to meet up at a hotel or go to dinner together elevates the situation. In these instances, the person sending the note is making an unwanted advance with an implication of physical contact.

Notes can escalate to uncomfortable conversations, too. If a victim doesn’t respond to a note, they might be trapped in sexualized conversations in the breakroom. The note writer, for instance, might ask questions about the victim’s sexual history or preferences.

Lewd Jokes Can Be Workplace Sexual Harassment

Do you have a coworker who tells jokes that are laced with sexual innuendo? Whether they tell the jokes to one person or a group doesn’t matter. In either case, this is inappropriate workplace behavior.

Jokes can be verbal, but they also can be in the form of posters. Signs or posters that feature lewd jokes about sexual activities can offend anyone in their path.

Watch out for sexualized jokes and comments in the workplace. And look for offensive behavior that centers on one’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Any comment that is derogatory toward someone who identifies as gay or transgender is grounds for punishment.

For example, this could take the shape of a manager who pokes fun at a coworker who recently came out. It might also take the form of a coworker making unwanted advances after discovering someone’s gender identity.

Unwanted Romantic Gifts Qualify

A person who sends flowers to her coworker’s home or drops off suggestive gifts could be engaging in sexual harassment. This behavior is particularly troubling if the gifts are delivered to the person’s private residence. Anything from flowers to lingerie can indicate a problem is brewing.

Gifts can be sent electronically, too. Links to pornography or other lewd videos that are sent to someone via email are a form of workplace sexual harassment. The emails or notes may contain pictures of the sender, too, in compromising positions that make the recipient concerned.

This form of workplace sexual harassment can make a victim fearful of their potential to earn promotions in an organization. Rather than focusing on work, they’ll simply be looking for a way out.

That’s why workplaces must create a fair environment. Sexual harassment victims should have a clear way to report bad behavior and see a response.

Inappropriate Physical Gestures Can Qualify

Harassment in the workplace doesn’t have to be overt and verbal, either. Staring at someone, whistling, and touching a person can be examples of sexual harassment at work. So can blocking a person’s path or sizing them up.

For instance, a coworker who rubs up against a person or suggestively touches them has stepped over the line. And a person who undresses in front of his coworker clearly is assuming too much of the other person.

Unwanted advances that elevate to a physical stage put the victim in a difficult situation. This is especially true if the person initiating the contact is in a position of power. They may use their power to threaten a subordinate’s job security if the subordinate does not submit to sexual favors.

This is a scenario where legal assistance is essential. A sexual harassment lawyer can provide help filing a discrimination claim. They’ll gather the details to put together a case that prevents the harasser from continuing their behavior.

Identify Sexual Harassment at Work

When you know what sexual harassment at work looks like, it’s easier to stop it. When you allow employees to engage in sexually suggestive activities, you create a hostile work environment. And if you want your employees to be happy and healthy, it’s important to explain and enforce rules regarding sexual misconduct.

When you need more help improving your workplace, check back for new articles.