Is There A Bright Line Between Salty Jokes And Compliments, And Sexual Harassment?
My new article in Above The Law discusses this very fraught workplace issue – which is not a hypothetical.
It begins:
“We all like to joke, tease, prank, and – face it – it sometimes gets a bit out of control, and the language gets a little ‘salty.’ All in good fun, in the right place and context.
But not in the workplace. Even by the water cooler. …
But is there a bright line to tell us when salty jokes, flirting, or ‘playful teasing crosses into sexual harassment?
And how about a compliment or casual remark such as ‘Hey, I like your dress,’ or ‘You look like you’ve been working out.’
Those bedeviled by this question span the globe; it’s not an issue just in the U.S. It seems that a balance needs to be struck between prohibiting harassment and creating a work environment that may be ‘sterile.’”
Read the entire article here. Read all of my prior weekly articles here.
