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     SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: AN UPDATE

              U.S. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD 
                   1120 Vermont Avenue, N.W. 
                     Washington, D.C. 20419


June 30, 1988

Sirs:

In accordance with section 202(a) of the Civil Service Reform Act
of 1978 (5 U.S.C. paragraph 1205(a)(3)), it is my honor to submit
this U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board report titled "Sexual
Harassment in the Federal Government: An Update."

This report discusses the results of a major study undertaken by
the Board to determine the nature and extent of sexual harassment
in the Federal Government. It updates the findings of an earlier
study by the Board which resulted in a landmark report issued in
1981.

This current report finds that sexual harassment remains a
widespread problem in the Federal workplace. It discusses what
Federal agencies and employees have done in response to sexual
harassment and provides recommendations for additional corrective
actions.

I think you will find this report useful as you consider issues
affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal work
force.

Sincerely,

Daniel R. Levinson


cc:

The President 
The President of the Senate 
The Speaker of the House of Representatives

Washington, DC



               U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board

DANIEL R. LEVINSON, Chairman 
MARIA L. JOHNSON, Vice Chairman 
DENNIS M. DEVANEY, Member

Lucretia F. Myers, Executive Director


Office of Policy and Evaluation 
Evangeline W. Swift, Director 

Project Supervisor 
John M. Palguta

Project Manager 
Rosemary H. Storey

Project Analyst 
John L. Crum, Ph.D. 


                         Acknowledgments

The author wishes to express her appreciation to the following
individuals without whose support and assistance this report could
not have been produced.

Jamie J. Carlyle, Ph.D., Research Psychologist
Paul van Rijn, Ph.D., Research Psychologist
Dianne Clode, Writer-Editor
Modestine Rogers, Technical Assistant
Patricia Carpenter, Secretary 



                        Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary 
2. Introduction 
3. The Nature and Extent of Sexual Harassment in the Federal
     Workplace
4. Employee Responses to Sexual Harassment
5. Agency Actions to Reduce Sexual Harassment 
6. The Cost of Sexual Harassment 
7. The Legal Imperative to Prevent Sexual Harassment: A Review of
     Case Law 
8. Recommendations 

Appendixes 
     Appendix 1: 1987 Questionnaire 
     Appendix 2: Largest Federal Departments and Agencies