2 ways quid pro quo harassment manifests at work

Quid pro quo sexual harassment is often what people imagine when they are discussing harassment on a job. Quid pro quo means something for something, which translates to attempting to use someone’s career as a means of soliciting sexual favors from them.

Typically, quid pro harassment involves someone in a position of authority using it to the detriment of a subordinate working at the same company. There are sometimes scenarios in which co-workers or even employees at another company might engage in quid pro quo sexual harassment of a professional.

However, frequently, such harassment comes from someone above the targeted worker within the same organization. There are two main ways that quid pro quo sexual harassment manifests in the modern workplace.

Seeking favors in return for opportunities

Someone in a position to provide a worker with a reference for a promotion or to determine how much of a raise they get for the year can potentially abuse that authority for personal gain. Offering workplace benefits in return for romantic or sexual favors,is a common form of quid pro quo sexual harassment.

Someone in a position of career authority harasses the individual who wants an advancement opportunity. A boss might only agree to recommend a worker for promotion if they comply with unreasonable requests. They might claim that the worker needs to show that they are a team player if they want the best raise possible. Such conduct is abusive and forces a worker to choose between career opportunities and their personal sense of ethics.

Threats of retaliation

Occasionally, a supervisor or manager might try to flirt with a worker or ask them on a date. When the employee declines their advances or expresses their discomfort, the harassing party may respond with a threat.

A supervisor might attempt to write a worker up for attitude issues or minor wardrobe concerns that they claim violate company dress code. They might even threaten a worker with immediate termination because of how they handle unwanted romantic or sexual advances. It is as inappropriate to threaten someone with job-related punishments for declining sexual advances as it is to offer them job-related rewards for acquiescing to those advances.

Professionals who can recognize quid pro quo harassment are in the best position to fight back. No one should have to accept abusive behavior to maintain or improve their career.