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.