“Quid pro quo” means “this for that” — and it’s unfortunately a common form of sexual harassment in New York workplaces.
In fact, a poll conducted by the ILR School at Cornell University found that 10.9 percent of adult respondents in New York had experienced quid pro quo sexual harassment at work.
That percentage is particularly shocking when you consider the specific type of sexual harassment involved. With quid pro quo sexual harassment, the harasser offers the victim a job or promotion or otherwise better treatment at work in exchange for sexual “favors.”
Information Gleaned from the Study
- One in 10 people reported experiencing quid pro quo sexual harassment in New York workplaces.
- While women endure sexual harassment at work more often than men, a significant number of men reported experiencing quid pro quo harassment. Of women who responded, 12.2 percent said they had experienced quid pro quo sexual harassment at work. Of men who responded, 9.5 percent said they had experienced quid pro quo sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Compared with people who identified as non-Hispanic and white, people of color were more likely to experience quid pro quo sexual harassment.
(Find out more about this unseemly kind of harassment in our previous post, “What is quid pro quo harassment? How can employees protect their rights?”)
Help Is Available
New York has some of the strongest anti-harassment and anti-discrimination laws in the world. If you have been sexually harassed or discriminated against at work, you have legal recourse. You can take steps now to hold the employer — and whoever else is responsible — accountable. Depending on the facts of the case, you may also be entitled to compensation for what you have endured. Speak with an employment law attorney about your specific case and the options available to you.