How does the EEOC define harassment?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the federal agency responsible for enforcing Title VII. The EEOC Guidelines, 29 C.F.R. Section 1604.11, provide the following definition of sexual harassment:

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

More information is available at www.eeoc.gov

A charge of discrimination in employment can be filed with the EEOC’s Los Angeles District Office, 255 E. Temple Street, Los Angeles, California, 213-894-1000 or with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, 611 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017, 2130-439-6799.