University Times

The sexual harassment awareness training film, shown as part of the Human Resources workshop, makes several points about sexual harassment in the workplace:

* Sexual harassment can occur between all gender combinations, but most cases involve a male offender and a female victim.

* Men are more likely to mis-read a woman's friendly remarks as sexual than women are a man's friendly remarks.

* Compliments must be seen as "in the eye of the beholder," not the intent of the giver.

* Off-color jokes at work can offend or degrade co-workers, even if they don't complain about them. Work is where people most want to be taken seriously.

* Effects of harassment can include stress-related and other health problems, loss of dignity, uneasiness and low morale.

* Among the reasons a person would not file a complaint are: fear of firing or retribution; embarrassment; not wanting to tell on a friend; not in their nature to complain.

* It is a myth that sexual harassment is always directed toward someone a person is attracted to. Harassment can be about power: trying to unnerve someone, picking on someone as the office outcast, soliciting a reaction, humiliating someone.

* Supervisors are responsible for the behavior of outside vendors who deal with their staff.

The film also offered some bits of advice for workers:

* Never assume that friendliness is automatically sexual. On the other hand, never assume that all behavior is okay just because you think it is innocent.

* If you're told some behavior is offensive, stop it.

* Before you say something, ask yourself: Would I say the same thing if my spouse or loved one was standing here, too?

And some warning signs of potential problems:

* Displayed pictures that are sexual in nature.

* Prevalence of obscene language or off-color jokes.

* Sudden changes in an employee's relationship with a co-worker.

* Low morale among workers.