Sexual harassment is wrong and you do not have to take it. Anything from inappropriate sexual comments, sexually explicit photos, and/or improper “touching” or fondling can constitute sexual harassment. An estimated 15,000 sexual harassment cases are filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) every year.

If you experience sexual harassment at work, report it to your employer. In many cases, if you do not report the harassment the law will not protect you and the harasser will be allowed to continue to harass you as well as other employees.

The following are several common facts related to sexual harassment:

• It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against you because you reported sexual harassment in the workplace.
• The victim and the harasser do not have to be of the opposite sex. A man can sexually harass a man and a woman can sexually harass a woman.
• An employer may not permit anyone to sexually harass its employees. It may not permit supervisors, co-workers, or even third-parties, such as customers, to sexually harass its employees.
• You do not have to be harassed directly to be a victim of sexual harassment. For example, sexist graffiti that is directed at all women can be a form of sexual harassment even if it is not directed specifically at you.
• Unlawful sexual harassment may occur even if the victim does not suffer any loss in pay or other economic harm.
• To be unlawful, the harasser’s conduct cannot be welcomed by the victim.

If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you should contact an experienced employment lawyer for advice.