• 01
  • September
    2010

More men are coming forward to speak out against sexual harassment in the workplace - sexual harassment against male employees.

Though a majority of cases involving sexual harassment, intimidation and hostile work environments involve female employees, males can also be the victims of unwanted attention or inappropriate behavior.

The very same laws that protect women from sexual harassment in the workplace also protect men. While not as highly visible as some of the cases filed by their female counterparts, more and more sexual harassment cases have to do with male workers.

In 2009, nearly 20 percent of the sex-related claims filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) were filed by male employees. Many lawyers expect that number to increase as time goes on.

Sexual harassment carries with it certain stigmas. Men are often unwilling to come forward because they believe that such a complaint will be perceived as weakness, perhaps even escalating an already hostile work environment. In many ways, these are the same risks faced by female employees who make the decision to come forward.

For whatever reason, male workers have begun to stand up for themselves in greater numbers. Hopefully, these personal stands against mistreatment result in fairer and friendlier work environments for all employees, both male and female.

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