By: Luis M. Germina

ESP II

(d) The above acts would result in an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for the employee

  Heads and supervisors are the front line when it comes to managing employee performance and needs from work.

  First, and most importantly, you do not want a

workplace culture that allows any form of harassment to occur.

 In harassment cases,.. we as chief of our local posts, demonstrating that we are taking the appropriate steps is crucial.

 To deter sexual harassment in the workplace, the law makes it the duty and responsibility of employers and heads to do the following:

•The harasser can be anyone, such as the boss, a supervisor, a co-worker, a teacher or professor, a student, or a friend.

•The victim does not have to be the person directly harassed but can be anyone who finds the behavior offensive and is affected by it.

You in Danger of Getting Charged with Sexual Harassment?  

However, there is a limit to everything, especially in the workplace. . 

You in Danger of Getting Charged with Sexual Harassment?  .  If you’re incredibly careless and tactless about the way words leave your tongue or the way you deal with others physically, you could be on the receiving end of a sexual harassment charge. 

 #3, Some people can’t help looking good and many of them might even go through certain pains just to achieve a certain look.  However, their bodies are nobody’s business, including yours. 

  #4, There are still people who are very sensitive when it comes to the subject of sex. 

#5, The kind of office culture or environment you work in will also factor in the complaint. 

Workplaces have policies covering sexual harassment.  If a talk or presentation is being given, pay attention. 

Many complaints regarding sexual harassment involve a superior and a subordinate.  If you happen to be the boss, don’t use your power or authority to encourage sexual innuendos. 

If you are in a position of authority and have a low level of self-respect, it will be very easy for you to use whatever power it is you think you have to abuse someone else.  One of the ways you can do this is to ask someone for sexual favors. 

So maybe there’s this one person at the office who’s your favorite for some reason.  If you must truly tell a dirty joke or story, don’t single out a single person – unless of course, you’re good friends and know each other very well. 

There are some offices or workplaces that are so filled with sexual innuendos that it’s almost impossible to go through one workday without hearing a single green joke.  This is usually okay, as long as people know and respect other people’s boundaries. 

If you absolutely must tell a dirty or sexy joke or story, you might want to use the third person.  Don’t single out someone, say offensive or derogatory stuff about them, their friends or family. 

In the workplace, certain areas of the body are just simply off limits.    Avoid staring at someone’s cleavage, butt, crotch or legs.  When they’re talking, look them in the eye and don’t fix your eyeballs on their mouths.

It would also help if you could keep your hands to yourself.  Being touchy-feeling by nature does not excuse you from allowing your hands to land on someone else’s hand, arm, back, chest, shoulder, thighs or legs.  ‘

There will always be a place in the world for dirty jokes.  Why?  They appeal to our most basic needs to laugh, be silly and take a peek at something the rest of cultured society holds sacred. Not every person you meet will appreciate your jokes.  There are people who would rather keep things a little tamer. 

Admiration is one thing.  Stalking is another.  If there’s someone at the office you really like and would love to know better, it’s okay to let your intentions known, provided the coast is clear. 

If you have a crush on someone and they do not reciprocate your feelings, don’t feel too bad. 

Sexual harassment can be difficult to prove, especially if it becomes a he said/she said event.  To make sure you protect yourself, do the following:

Say ‘No’ or ‘Stop it’ firmly and loud enough for someone to hear.. 

Express your objection to the person’s behavior clearly and firmly but avoid making too much fuss about it. 

In case of an investigation, you might come off as unreliable or worse, prone to exaggeration. 

Don’t think it is your fault or that you ‘asked for it’.Express your disapproval and be clear about it.  If the person asks you why, tell them it makes you uncomfortable and you don’t think it’s appropriate behavior. 

Document the event/s.Write down the date, time, place and witnesses to the incident in detail.  Use a journal or a notebook and keep it in a safe place. 

Inform someone about what happened.Tell your closest confidant or friend at the office.  If the incident involved touching, violence, psychological or physical threats, do the same and then go to your boss or supervisor.  Don’t turn the incident into office gossip.

File a complaint. Surely the govt. has policies regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. Make sure to make the right steps.  They should be able to help you resolve this problem.If your case is ignored and you wish to pursue it, then you might go to the police and file a report. .

Our position and status in our workplace is just a matter of choice, it is either you stay good and well behaved to be happy in the end or be happy at first , and in the end…. to stay

behind bars..