Workplace sexual harassment may involve demands for favors in exchange for promotions or other job opportunities. It can also relate to the creation of a hostile work environment.
When one coworker or a group of other professionals makes the work environment abusive and intimidating, the targeted employee may have grounds to allege that they experienced harassment. Sometimes, sexual harassment in the workplace involves conduct that may look benign initially, such as sharing jokes with coworkers.
When does a joke go from an attempt at humor to an abusive act?
When the joke causes clear discomfort
Whether or not certain behavior constitutes sexual harassment depends in large part on the perspective of the targeted person. If one coworker finds certain jokes distasteful and offensive, or if the joke clearly targets a group based on sexual orientation or biological sex, then the joke could contribute to a hostile work environment.
Sexually explicit jokes are often referenced as inappropriate for the workplace. Any joke that denigrates an entire group of people and makes specific coworkers uncomfortable could contribute to a hostile work environment.
Especially in cases where jokes involve lewd details, inappropriate images, such as when coworkers share memes or videos, or negative messaging about an entire group, they can contribute to a hostile work environment. If coworkers or supervisors are not receptive to requests to stop making inappropriate jokes, dealing with a hostile work environment may require outside assistance.
Taking action to combat workplace sexual harassment can help professionals address misconduct that could damage their careers and possibly their mental health. When jokes are offensive or intended to humiliate one group of workers or a specific employee, they can help create a hostile work environment, which is a common form of sexual harassment.