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Girlie Posters in the Workplace
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Girlie Posters in the Workplace
Discuss employment-law issues such as family leave, overtime, disabilities law, harassment, immigration and termination.
Need some advice regarding posters/calendars of scantily clad women in the workplace (posted in lunchroom, private offices, etc) Managers are not convinced these are grounds for sexual harassment issu
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Forums » Topic Forums » Legal Forum » Girlie Posters in the Workplace
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Girlie Posters in the Workplace
posted at 6/21/1999 3:34 AM EDT
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Posts: 15
First: 6/21/1999 Last: 3/7/2003 |
Need some advice regarding posters/calendars of scantily clad women in the workplace (posted in lunchroom, private offices, etc) Managers are not convinced these are grounds for sexual harassment issues. Any documents I can refer to that will state otherwise?
I'd be grateful! |
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Girlie Posters in the Workplace
posted at 6/21/1999 6:59 AM EDT
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Posts: 946
First: 6/14/1999 Last: 12/14/2005 |
Whoa there, Nellie!!! I suspect that such posters can be considered by any reasonable person to constitute a hostile environment since they appear to be posted everyplace--it's sufficiently pervasive, subjecting female employees to a hostile environment by causing them to run a "gauntlet" of girlie pictures. In many states, such as California, there is specific sexual harassment legislation that identifies posting of offensive pictures that have sexual innuendo to be a basis of sexual harassment. One would think that your managers would want to avoid problems before they started. Have any of the women employees complained? If so, and the company permits these pictures to stand, I'd love to be the plaintiff's attorney. Here's a good test to show the point: post same number of "beefcake" pictures of well-endowed men in tight bikinis in these areas. See what the managers do then. If the managers permit those pictures to remain up with the pictures of the women, then it's party time at your company. Orgy begins at noon! If the managers take down only the "beefcake" pictures, then the point is made that the pictures are designed to harassment and humiliate women. Hopefully, they will realize the stupidity of permitting the posting of both types of pictures and remove them all. Take a look at the EEOC website www.eeoc.gov. Look at the document entitled Policy Guidance on Current Issues of Sexual Harassment. The Commission itself identifies posting of girlie pictures along with other similar conduct can constitute sexual harassment. I suspect if your company considers these girlie pictures as okay, they probably consider and permit other offensive sexual conduct to occur in the office. |
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Girlie Posters in the Workplace
posted at 6/21/1999 7:41 AM EDT
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Posts: 833
First: 6/11/1999 Last: 8/23/2001 |
Harassment is in the eyes of the jury; if your managers are waiting for a complaint before they react, your company is sadly unprotected.
Harassment doesn't mean just reacting to complaints and firing people - it's taking an affirmative preventative position. As an employer, there is a bias to provide an environment free of harassment, and, by their sheer inaction, condone a hostile environment. Even in private offices, that stuff has no place in the workplace. Your company is at risk, and your managers may be held personally liable. Unless your company's stock-in-trade or advertising promotion involves those pictures, they serve no business purpose other than the prurient interests of certain employees. If you can't get the managers to see the light, suggest they ask the company's attorney to visit and decide. After all, he's going to have to defend them.. |
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Girlie Posters in the Workplace
posted at 6/21/1999 7:18 PM EDT
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Posts: 2217
First: 6/16/1999 Last: 12/13/2001 |
Posters like the ones described could be considered by some to be "hallmark" evidence in a sexual harassment litigation. While the legal issues involved are complex (is the conduct so severe as to create a hostile environment, did the employees complain, was the conduct unwelcome, and so on), the practical answer should be to get those posters down -- TODAY. If they go back up, its zero tolerance time. If your managers do not see the issue, than you have an obligation to reeducate the management workforce. They do not get it and, as a result, your company is going to get it sooner or later.
Get an employment attorney, get one now, get a policy in place, and train your management staff. |
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Girlie Posters in the Workplace
posted at 6/21/1999 9:19 PM EDT
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Posts: 15
First: 6/21/1999 Last: 3/7/2003 |
Thanks for the input - I am new to my company, and although we do have a strong written policy, it obviously needs enforcement. I needed some concrete references and your comments as a spring board to get this item under control. And I got it! |
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