Sexual harassment laws protect Texas workers from abusive behavior. These protections enjoy backing at the federal level by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and there are state laws on this matter as well.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment in the workplace can entail sexual advances, touching of a sexual nature, requests for sexual favors, and inappropriate sexual comments. Employees subjected to these behaviors to the point that the workplace becomes an intimidating environment may be victims of sexual harassment. It is important to note that an isolated incident of teasing or a single off-handed comment may not be enough to substantiate a sexual harassment claim.
A culture of sexual harassment taints many workplaces despite the many protections designed to stop this form of mistreatment. Some examples of the need for continued diligence on the part of employers in preventing workplace harassment have allegedly occurred at the nation’s premier law enforcement agency.
Sexual harassment and the FBI
In 2020, an assistant director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation decided on retirement after facing accusations that he groped a female employee. The incident took place in a stairwell. The assistant director is said to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Another high-ranking official with the Bureau left the job after the revelation that he subjected eight employees to sexual harassment. A third FBI agent retired after it was found that he used blackmail to coerce sexual favors from a female employee.
Media sources report that many other instances of workplace sexual harassment have taken place at the Bureau in recent years. In many cases, the perpetrators of the harassment escaped without any real repercussions for their actions. One former female analyst for the Bureau characterizes the happenings at the Bureau as a cover-up. The analyst says she left her job after being touched inappropriately by a colleague at a party. The lawsuit she filed states she now suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome resulting from the incident.
Workers possess the right to a work environment free from harassment of any kind. Individuals facing sexual or other forms of harassment on the job may benefit from speaking with an attorney.