Unwanted sexual advances in the workplace can leave workers feeling confused, uncomfortable, and anxious about going to work. Sexual bribery is a type of unwanted sexual advance that constitutes unlawful sexual harassment. Employees can be left feeling powerless when a superior offers them elevation in pay or work status in exchange for sexual favors.
The sexual harassment attorneys at Lipsky Lowe LLP, with their extensive experience and dedication, are committed to protecting your rights as a worker. They have a proven track record of defending victims of all types of sexual harassment at work, including sexual bribery. You can trust our experienced attorneys to help you understand your legal rights and pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
What Is Sexual Bribery?
Sexual bribery is a clear violation of workplace ethics and the law. It occurs when a supervisor or co-worker offers another worker an incentive if they engage in sexual activities with them. For example, a manager may tell a worker he will give her a much-needed raise if she engages in a sexual act with him. In other words, the proposed sexual act is presented to the worker as a condition of obtaining employment-related benefits.
Current employees and job applicants can be the victims of sexual bribery. For example, a hiring manager may tell a prospective applicant she will hire him if he engages in a sexual act with her. Sexual favors could include intercourse, sexual touching, or other types of sexual activities.
Most sexual bribery cases involve a manager, owner, or supervisor of a company bribing a worker to engage in sexual activities. Co-workers can also be guilty of this type of sexual harassment. The bribery doesn’t have to occur in person at the workplace. Requests for sexual favors could be given over email, via phone calls, through notes, over text messages, during Zoom meetings, and through other forms of communication. Additionally, sexual bribery can occur between people of the same sex or gender identity.
The Difference Between Sexual Bribery and Sexual Coercion
Sexual bribery is different from sexual coercion. Sexual coercion occurs when a supervisor threatens a worker with negative employment consequences if they don’t accept the supervisor’s sexual advance. For example, suppose the owner of a company stays late. As a worker starts to leave for the night, the owner corners the worker and threatens to fire her if she doesn’t engage in sexual activities with him.
Sexual bribery involves a manager attempting to incentivize a person to engage in sexual activities by offering job benefits. On the other hand, sexual coercion involves threatening to take negative action if a worker doesn’t comply with a manager’s sexual advances. Both sexual bribery and coercion are considered unlawful sexual harassment, however.
Examples of Sexual Bribery in the Workplace
Perhaps your manager has made sexual suggestions to you in the past and has hinted about the positive incentives they’d give you if you consent. You’ve likely experienced sexual bribery in the workplace in a more subtle form than a manager outright stating he’ll give you a raise for complying.
If you aren’t sure whether your experience constitutes sexual bribery, speaking to an experienced attorney can be helpful. Subtle cases of sexual bribery can constitute sexual harassment, and an attorney can help you build your claim by gathering evidence. This evidence could include emails, text messages, or other communications that document the harassment, as well as witness statements or other corroborating evidence. Some of the most common examples of sexual bribery in the workplace include a higher-up offering a worker one or more of the following in exchange for sexual favors:
- A raise
- Better working conditions
- Access to training
- A positive performance review
- A promotion
- Special treatment in the workplace
- More favorable working conditions
- Greater access to fringe employment benefits
Sexual Bribery Is a Type of Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment
According to federal, New York state, and New York City laws, sexual harassment in the workplace is unlawful. Specifically, the NYC Human Rights Law provides workers in New York City with broad protection from the two categories of unlawful sexual harassment: hostile work environments and quid pro quo sexual harassment. The phrase “quid pro quo” means “something for something” in Latin. Sexual bribery involves one person offering favorable employment actions for sexual favors and, consequentially, is a type of quid pro quo sexual harassment.
Pursuing Damages for Sexual Harassment in New York City
Sexual bribery victims can suffer significant physical, emotional, and psychological harm. Victims may begin to realize they’re suffering from anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the incident. They may also start to become more isolated and live in fear of going to work every day.
Victims can pursue compensation for the personal and professional damages they’ve suffered from sexual bribery by pursuing a legal claim against their employer. This process typically involves filing a complaint with the appropriate government agency, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the New York State Division of Human Rights, and possibly engaging in mediation or other forms of dispute resolution.
Under the NYC Human Rights Law, victims of sexual harassment can pursue damages for their emotional distress as well as other remedies. Employers can face civil penalties of up to $250,000 when found to have willfully violated the law. After carefully listening to the facts of your case, Lipsky Lowe LLP can help you develop a legal strategy for recovering compensation and holding your employer accountable.
Contact a Sexual Bribery Attorney in New York City
If you’ve been harmed at work because of sexual bribery, remember that you’re not alone. It’s important to understand your legal rights and the support available to you. Lipsky Lowe LLP has successfully represented many New York City-area clients in a wide range of sexual harassment claims. We use our extensive experience and knowledge of employment laws to pursue the most compensation possible for our clients. Don’t hesitate to contact our law firm to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about how we can fight for you.