Quid Pro Quo Harassment

The victim needs to prove the following elements:

• Victim was an employee of the company or has applied for a position there.
• The alleged accused party had made unwanted sexual advances to the victim either physically or verbally.
• Certain perks or benefits were offered on the condition of the victim agreeing to return sexual favors, or the acceptance of a job application is based on the victim’s agreement to return sexual favors.
• At the time of the alleged harassment, the alleged accused party was an authoritative figure or an agent working for that company.
• The victim was harmed in one way or another by the alleged harassment.
• The alleged accused party’s behavior was the main reason for the victim’s harm.

A quid pro quo harassment is when an authoritative figure offers an employee certain benefits in return of sexual favors. This may be misunderstood with other types of harassment that are more inclined towards a sexual nature either in verbal or physical forms which are unwanted but the situation does not involve any offers of perks which were accompanied with conditions of receiving sexual favors in return.

The victim can first try reporting the situation to his or her manager, supervisor or human resources. They should also seek llegal advice.

If words of the matter get out, the company could stand losing their hard-earned reputation which may in turn cause a potential loss of business to a certain degree.

Any offers of benefits or perks made by a manager or an authoritative figure who expects sexual favors in return constitute toward quid pro quo harassment. The offers could include but are not limited to the following:

• Acceptance of a job application
• Job promotions
• Increased benefits
• Recognition
• …and more.