The Department of State is committed to providing a workplace that is free from sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in the workplace is against the law and will not be tolerated. When the Department determines that an allegation of sexual harassment is credible, it will take prompt and appropriate corrective action.
What Is Sexual Harassment?
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:
An employment decision affecting that individual is made because the individual submitted to or rejected the unwelcome conduct; or
The unwelcome conduct unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or abusive work environment.
Certain behaviors, such as conditioning promotions, awards, training or other job benefits upon acceptance of unwelcome actions of a sexual nature, are always wrong.
Unwelcome actions such as the following are inappropriate and, depending on the circumstances, may in and of themselves meet the definition of sexual harassment or contribute to a hostile work environment:
Sexual pranks, or repeated sexual teasing, jokes, or innuendo, in person or via e-mail;
Verbal abuse of a sexual nature;
Touching or grabbing of a sexual nature;
Repeatedly standing too close to or brushing up against a person;
Repeatedly asking a person to socialize during off-duty hours when the person has said no or has indicated he or she is not interested (supervisors in particular should be careful not to pressure their employees to socialize);
Giving gifts or leaving objects that are sexually suggestive;
Repeatedly making sexually suggestive gestures;
Making or posting sexually demeaning or offensive pictures, cartoons or other materials in the workplace;
Off-duty, unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that affects the work environment.A victim of sexual harassment can be a man or a woman. The victim can be of the same sex as the harasser. The harasser can be a supervisor, co-worker, other Department employee, or a non-employee who has a business relationship with the Department.