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Work and Quality of Life pp 395–414Cite as

Sexual Harassment: “Is It Just Me or Are You Hot?”

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Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

Abstract

This chapter reviews what constitutes sexual harassment, its prevalence in the US workforce, its potential causes, and the detrimental effects it has on victims, victims’ work groups, and their organizations as a whole. Situational and individual predictors of sexual harassment are explored. Also included is a review of how employee rights and quality of work life, as well the organizational bottom line, are jeopardized by the occurrence of sexual harassment. Ultimately, the authors conclude that sexual harassment is a significant problem facing organizations today. Even the most carefully developed, well-intentioned preventative measures are unlikely to completely prevent it. Programs for preventing sexual harassment are discussed along with recommendations for stopping sexual harassment, restoring employee quality of work life, and minimizing legal exposure.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Small businesses are exempt if they have fewer than 15 total employees on the payroll for at least four and one-half months out of the year in question (EEOC & Walters v. Metropolitan Educational Enterprises, 1997).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aclarity Partners, Ltd., Portland, ME, 04101, USA

    Camille Gallivan Nelson Ph.D.

  2. Business Psychology Department, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL, 60654, USA

    Keith A. Carroll Ph.D.

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  1. Camille Gallivan Nelson Ph.D.
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  2. Keith A. Carroll Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Camille Gallivan Nelson Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Psychology, Radford University, Radford, 24142, Virgin Islands, USA

    Nora P. Reilly

  2. Pamlin College of Business, Dept. Marketing, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Pamplin Hall 2025, Blacksburg, 24061-0236, Virginia, USA

    M. Joseph Sirgy

  3. , Psychology, Radford University, Russell Hall 444, Radford, 24142, Virginia, USA

    C. Allen Gorman

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Nelson, C.G., Carroll, K.A. (2012). Sexual Harassment: “Is It Just Me or Are You Hot?”. In: Reilly, N., Sirgy, M., Gorman, C. (eds) Work and Quality of Life. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4059-4_21

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