TITLE VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964
Sexual harassment on the job is a form of workplace discrimination, which
is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964. Under Title VII, the harasser is breaking the law if you are asked
to submit to sexual advances in exchange for keeping
or advancing in your job. This is known as "quid pro quo" sexual
harassment, and a single well-documented incident may be
enough for you to support charges against the harasser. Even if you don't
lose your job or suffer economic loss, you may still
have a claim for sexual harassment under Title VII if the unwanted conduct
of a sexual nature is continuous and frequent and
makes your workplace intimidating, offensive, or hostile. "Hostile
environment" harassment need not come from a supervisor,
but could be from a co-worker or other person whom you encounter at work
(physician, patron, student, patient). Lewd jokes,
sexual comments, displays of suggestive material, or repeated and
insistent requests for dates may constitute a case for "hostile
environment" harassment.