Free Human Resource Management Essay Example

Introduction

Employees are human beings and their behavior at workplace is largely determined by the situations they may face at workplace or in their individual lives . The employee behavior at workplace is expected to be free from any sexual abuse or harassment against fellow employees. Organizations have established standards for employee conduct in their policies. The thinking about what constitutes right or wrong behavior at work place may vary between male and female employees.

Sexual Harassment Types

Sexual Experience Questionnaire (SEQ) is the most commonly used instrument for the assessment of sexual harassment at work place. According to Till’s classification of sexual harassing behavior, sexual harassment may include a) passing sexist remarks and behavior, b) inappropriate and offensive sexual advances, c) sexual activity or behavior on promise of reward for employees, d) sexual activity forced through fear of punishment and e) sexual crimes .
There are five main types of sexual harassment: a) gender harassment refers to passing of insulting remarks to the opposite sex, b) seductive behavior that refers to sexual advances, c) sexual bribery that refers to sexual behavior on promise of reward, d) sexual coercion that means sexual activity through fear of punishment, and e) sexual assault or rape .

Male and Female Distinction about Appropriate Behavior

Sexual harassment continues to be a barrier towards the growth and development of females in organizations. Women are subjected to sexual harassment at work place and tend to quit their careers due to such experiences. Lately research studies have highlighted the fact that even men may be subjected to sexual harassment at work place. However, it is assumed that males are more likely to harass females at work place than the tendency of females to harass males at workplace. Men often interpret friendly behavior by women employees such as lunch to be considered as a date and thus their interpretation of sexual harassing behavior is different from females. Other symptoms of sexual harassment such as comments and remarks remain same for both genders.
This distinction may be harmful as it becomes difficult for males and females to be friendly at the workplace as they may be mistaken by their peers of opposite gender to be advancing for sexual harassment. It may lead to a feeling of insecurity among the employees and may limit their interactions at the workplace.

References

Bogardus, A. M. (2009). PHR/SPHR: Professional in Human Resources Certification Study Guide. Indiana: John Wiley and Sons.
Paludi, M. A., & Paludi, C. A. (2003). Academic and Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Handbook of Cultural, Social Science, Management, and Legal Perspectives. CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.
References
Bogardus, A. M. (2009). PHR/SPHR: Professional in Human Resources Certification Study Guide. Indiana: John Wiley and Sons.
Paludi, M. A., & Paludi, C. A. (2003). Academic and Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Handbook of Cultural, Social Science, Management, and Legal Perspectives. CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.