Final answer:
Terminated individuals for sexual harassment are liable for their own legal defense and judgments. Sexual harassment comprises unwelcome sexual behavior that adversely affects one's work environment. Employers and educational institutions must maintain a harassment-free environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX when occurring in educational institutions receiving federal funding. It includes any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
When an individual is terminated due to a sexual harassment offense, they may indeed be responsible for their own legal defense and any subsequent judgments against them. Employers are mandated by law to ensure a harassment-free workplace, and if an employer fails to take appropriate measures, they too can be held legally accountable.
In addition to the harasser being liable, institutions such as schools may be held legally liable if they tolerate sexual harassment. Due to this, educational institutions establish comprehensive codes to prohibit such behavior and protect students and staff. In the workplace, the perpetrator can be anyone from a supervisor to a client, and discrimination includes any adverse employment decision, such as being fired or demoted. However, it is the individual harasser who may ultimately bear the legal consequences of their actions.