Sexual harassment typically falls into one of two categories. Some people experience quid pro quo sexual harassment. A business owner or someone in a position of power tries to manipulate or coerce them into actions using their career ambitions as leverage.
Other people experience a hostile work environment. They have to endure abusive, inappropriate conduct regularly to the extent that it becomes a requirement of maintaining their employment. Sometimes, sexual harassment involves flirting.
People can feel confused about whether any flirting in the workplace is appropriate. When does flirting cross the line and potentially constitute sexual harassment?
When the flirting isn’t mutual
Some people are naturally flirtatious. They maintain a comfortable rapport with many people that can help them close sales or work well with teammates. Other times, a few people have a flirtatious connection that could lead to an office romance.
So long as everyone involved in casual flirting is comfortable with the encounters, then there is no issue. However, when one party expresses a desire for the flirting to stop or that it makes them uncomfortable, the other party should respect their boundaries.
The refusal to cease flirting when someone is uncomfortable with the attention or overtures can cross the line and become sexual harassment. This is especially true in scenarios where a worker’s reaction to flirting could impact their access to career opportunities or put them at risk of job-related punishments.
When the flirting affects other people
Sometimes, the flirting between two or more individuals in the workplace can create an unstable work environment. For example, perhaps one employee has conservative religious views. They feel strongly that sexual relationships shouldn’t develop outside of marriage and that people should not flirt unless they intend to pursue a marital relationship. They may politely speak up about flirtatious conduct in the workplace.
In some cases, asking people to stop flirting can result in overt hostilities. If a coworker not involved in the flirting is uncomfortable and faces unfair treatment routinely from their coworkers because of their personal values, the flirting may have created a scenario in which the worker experiences a hostile work environment.
Flirting often falls into a gray area regarding sexual harassment. The attitudes and roles of the people involved and other factors influence the rights of those affected by workplace flirting. Discussing inappropriate flirting and any attempts to resolve the issue can help employees determine whether they may have experienced sexual harassment. Unwanted flirting and flirting that leads to other types of workplace misconduct may influence a sexual harassment case.