♦ EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This includes a broad spectrum of conduct, including harassment based on sex; gender, transgender status, and sexual orientation (meaning one’s heterosexuality,
homosexuality, or bisexuality); and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Sexually harassing conduct need not be motivated by sexual desire. By way of illustration only, and not limitation, some examples of unlawful and unacceptable behavior include:

• • Unwanted sexual advances;
  • Offering an employment benefit (such as a raise or promotion or assistance with one’s career) in exchange for sexual favors, or threatening an employment detriment (such as separation of employment, demotion, or disciplinary action) for an Employee’s failure to engage in sexual activity;
  • Visual conduct, such as leering, making sexual gestures, or displaying sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, or posters;
  • Verbal sexual advances, propositions, requests, or comments;
  • Verbal abuse of a sexual nature; graphic, verbal commentaries about an individual’s body; sexually degrading words used to describe an individual; suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations;
  • Sending or posting sexually-related text-messages, videos, or messages via e-mail or social media;
  • Physical conduct, such as touching, assaulting, impeding, or blocking movement;
  • Physical or verbal abuse concerning an individual’s gender, gender identity, or gender expression; and
  • Verbal abuse concerning a person’s characteristics, such as vocal pitch, facial hair, or the size or shape of a person’s body, including remarks that a man is too feminine or a woman is too masculine.