What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is a behaviour – the critical word is ”UNWELCOME BEHAVIOR”. It includes a range of actions from mild transgressions (verbal or physical) to sexual abuse or assault that is unwelcome to the victim.¹ Examples:
- a man whistles to a woman who walks by (catcalls)
- he shouts out suggestive comments to her
- he blocks her path if she tries to pass
- a woman looks a man up and down when he approaches her (elevator eyes)
- a person tells sexual jokes or makes sexual comments in the office
A hostile work environment is where such behaviour happens, which is directed at an employee because of that employee’s sex that is offensive, hostile and intimidating and that adversely affects that employee’s ability to do his or her job.
What should you do if you are sexually harassed?
- Keep a record of everything possible, even if there are no witnesses to the harassment. In some jobs, you might be coerced to do ”something to get something” – they call it ”quid pro quo”. Write down any comments or diverse treatment you received.
- Keep your notes and records of the harassment in a safe place. Don’t keep them at work. If you are fired, you might be prevented from removing anything from your office. Rather, consider a cloud Dropbox that only you can access.
- You have to report any sexual harassment at work – in writing. Without reporting it you will not be able to sue a person. Provide the following information:
- A description of the incident of sexual harassment.
- The name of the harasser.
- What action do you want the employer to take against the harasser?
4. If you are not happy with your employer’s actions, you can refer a dispute to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA). Tollfree number: 0861 16 16 16
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is usually undesired sexual behaviour by one person upon another. Perpetrators (traditionally known by the victim) use force, make threats or take advantage of victims who are not able to give consent. Sexual abuse can happen to men or women of any age.
Sexual abuse by a partner/intimate can include derogatory name-calling, refusal to use contraception, deliberately causing unwanted physical pain during sex, intentionally passing on sexual diseases or infections and using objects, toys, or other items (e.g. baby oil or lubricants) without consent and to cause pain or humiliation.
What is sexual assault?
When force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. It is a non-consensual sexual violation of another person. It is also considered sexual assault if a suspect unlawfully and intentionally inspires the belief in a complainant that he/she will be sexually violated. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or (often pejoratively) molester.
What should I do if I was sexually assaulted?
- Get help. Call *120*7355 on your cell phone if you need immediate medical or police assistance in South Africa. This number will give you your three nearest rape/assault centres where you can get medical attention.
- Go to a safe place as soon as possible and ask someone you trust to stay with you.
- Try to preserve all evidence of the assault. Avoid drinking, bathing, showering, douching, brushing your teeth, or changing your clothes. Evidence can be collected at an emergency room, and you can decide later whether or not you want to file criminal charges.
- Try to write down, or have a friend write down, everything you can remember about the incident, including a physical description of the perpetrator, their identity if you know it, and the use of threats, force or coercion, such as repeatedly asking, pressuring you, getting you to drink a lot or take drugs, etc.
- Consider getting medical care. Go to Health Services or a hospital emergency room that provides medical care for sexual assault victims. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, it’s essential to get medical care to discuss STIs, date rape drugs, pregnancy prevention, and evidence collection. All services, except evidence collection and drug testing, can be provided at Health Services.
- You also need PEP ( Post Exposure Prophylaxis) ARVs to prevent you from being infected with HIV if you were raped. You can get PEP free of charge from any government health facility if you lay a charge of rape with the SAPS. You have to take PEP within 72 hours after the rape occurred.
- If you think you were drugged or consumed a sedative-like substance, ask the medical provider to take a urine sample. Date rape drugs like GHB and Rohypnol are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood. If you still have remnants of the drink, save them for analysis. Since many of these drugs clear the system quickly, a negative test result does not necessarily mean that no drug was involved.
This Act comprehensively deals with issues of discrimination and addresses residual factors in promoting equality in the workplace. It covers employees and problems not dealt with in the Employment Equity Act of 1998 (Act 55 of 1998). Its scope encompasses all areas of life, including the family. The Act also prohibits “harassment” on the grounds of sex and other grounds or a combination of grounds. It also prohibits “hate speech” and discrimination based on gender and HIV status.
Provided by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)
1. Introduction
(1) The objective of this code is to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace.(2) This code provides appropriate procedures to resolve the problem and prevent its recurrence. (3) This code encourages and promotes the development and implementation of policies and procedures that will create workplaces free of sexual harassment, where employers and employees respect one another’s integrity and dignity, their privacy, and their right to equity in the workplace.
2. Application of the code
(1) Although this code is intended to guide employers and employees, the perpetrators and victims of sexual harassment may include (1) Owners (2) Employers (3) Managers (4) Supervisors (5) Employees (6) Job applicants (7) Clients (8) Suppliers (9) Contractors (10) Others having dealings with a business (2) Nothing in 2(1) above confers the authority on employers to take disciplinary action in respect of non-employees. 3) A non-employee who is a victim of sexual harassment may lodge a grievance with the employer of the harasser where the harassment has taken place in the workplace or in the course of the harasser’s employment.
3. Definition of sexual harassment
(1) Sexual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. The unwanted nature of sexual harassment distinguishes it from behaviour that is welcome and mutual. (2) Sexual attention becomes sexual harassment if: (a) The behaviour is persisted in, although a single incident of harassment can constitute sexual harassment; and/or(b) The recipient has made it clear that the behaviour is considered offensive; and (c) The perpetrator should have known that the behaviour is regarded as unacceptable.
4. Forms of sexual harassment
(1) Sexual harassment may include unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct but is not limited to the examples listed as follows:
(a) Physical conduct of a sexual nature includes all unwanted physical contact, ranging from touching to sexual assault and rape, and consists of a strip search by or in the presence of the opposite sex.
(b) Verbal forms of sexual harassment include unwelcome innuendoes, suggestions and hints, sexual advances, comments with sexual overtones, sex-related jokes or insults or unwelcome graphic comments about a person’s body made in their presence or directed toward them, unwelcome and inappropriate enquiries about a person’s sex life, and unwelcome whistling directed at a person or group of persons.
(c) Non-verbal forms of sexual harassment include unwelcome gestures, indecent exposure, and the unwelcome display of sexually explicit pictures and objects.
(d) Quid pro quo harassment occurs where an owner, employer, supervisor, member of management or co-employee undertakes or attempts to influence the process of employment, promotion, training, discipline, dismissal, salary increment or other benefits of an employee or job applicant, in exchange for sexual favours.
(2) Sexual favouritism exists where a person who is in a position of authority rewards only those who respond to his/her sexual advances, whilst other deserving employees who do not submit themselves to any sexual advances are denied promotions, merit ratings or salary increases.
5. Guiding principles
(1) Employers should create and maintain a working environment in which the dignity of employees is respected. A climate in the workplace should also be created and maintained in which victims of sexual harassment will not feel that their grievances are ignored or trivialised or fear reprisals. Implementing the following guidelines can assist in achieving these ends:
(a) Employers/management and employees are required to refrain from committing acts of sexual harassment.
(b) All employers/management and employees have a role to play in creating and maintaining a working environment where sexual harassment is unacceptable. They should ensure that their standards of conduct do not cause offence and discourage unacceptable behaviour on the part of others.
(c) Employers/management should attempt to ensure that persons such as customers, suppliers, job applicants, and others dealing with the business are not subjected to sexual harassment by the employer or its employees.
(d) Employers/management are required to take appropriate action in accordance with this code when they are made aware of instances of sexual harassment in the workplace.
(2) This code recognises the importance of collective agreements regulating the handling of sexual harassment cases and is not intended as a substitute for disciplinary codes and procedures containing such measures, where these are the subject of collective agreements or the outcome of joint decision-making by an employer and a workplace forum. However, collective agreements and policy statements should be conscious of and guided by the provisions of this code.
6. Policy statements
(1) As a first step in expressing concern and commitment to dealing with the problem of sexual harassment, employers should issue a policy statement which should provide that:
(a) All employees, job applicants and other persons dealing with the business, have the right to be treated with dignity.
(b) Sexual harassment in the workplace will not be permitted or condoned.
(c) Persons who have been subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace have a right to file a grievance about it should it occur, and appropriate action will be taken by the employer.
(2) Management should be held to a positive duty to implement the policy and take disciplinary action against employees who do not comply with it.
(3) A policy on sexual harassment should also explain the procedure which should be followed by employees who are victims of sexual harassment. The policy should also state that:
(a) Allegations of sexual harassment will be dealt with seriously, expeditiously, sensitively and confidentially.
(b) Employees will be protected against victimisation and retaliation for lodging grievances and false accusations. (4) Policy statements on sexual harassment should be communicated effectively to all employees.
7. Procedures
Employers should develop clear procedures for dealing with sexual harassment. These procedures should ensure the resolution of problems in a sensitive, efficient, and effective way.
(1) Advice and Assistance
Sexual harassment is a sensitive issue, and a victim may feel unable to approach the perpetrator, lodge a formal grievance or turn to colleagues for support. As far as is practicable employers should designate a person outside of line management whom victims may approach for confidential advice. Such a person:
(a) This could include persons employed by the company to perform, inter alia, such a function, a trade union representative or co-employee, or outside professionals.
(b) Should have the appropriate skills and experience or be properly trained and given adequate resources.
(c) Could be required to have counselling and relevant labour relations skills and be able to provide support and advice on a confidential basis.
(2) Options to resolve a problem
(a) Employees should be advised that there are two options for resolving a sexual harassment problem. Either an informal attempt can be made, or a formal procedure can be initiated.
(b) The employee should be under no duress to accept one or the other option.
(3) Informal procedure
(a) It may be sufficient for the employee concerned to have an opportunity where she/he can explain to the person engaging in the unwanted conduct that the behaviour in question is not welcome, that it offends them or makes them uncomfortable, and that it interferes with their work (b) If the informal approach has not provided a satisfactory outcome, if the case is severe or if the conduct continues, it may be more appropriate to embark upon a formal procedure. Severe cases may include sexual assault, rape, a strip search and quid pro quo harassment.
(4) Formal procedure
Where a formal procedure has been chosen by the aggrieved, a formal procedure for resolving the grievance should be available and should:
(a) Specify to whom the employee should lodge the grievance.
(b) Refer to timeframes which allow the grievance to be dealt with expeditiously.
(c) Provide that if the case is not resolved satisfactorily, the issue can be dealt with regarding the dispute procedures contained in item 7(7) of this code.
(5) Investigation and disciplinary action
(a) Care should be taken during any investigation of a grievance of sexual harassment that the aggrieved person is not disadvantaged, and that the position of other parties is not prejudiced if the grievance is found to be unwarranted.
(b) The Code of Good Practice regulating dismissal contained in Schedule 8 of this Act, reinforces the provisions of Chapter VIII of this Act and provides that an employee may be dismissed for serious misconduct or repeated offences. Serious incidents of sexual harassment or continued harassment after warnings are dismissable offences.
(c) In cases of persistent harassment or single incidents of serious misconduct, employers ought to follow the procedures set out in the Code of Practice contained in Schedule 8 of this Act.
(d) The range of disciplinary sanctions to which employees will be liable should be clearly stated, and it should also be made clear that it will be a disciplinary offence to victimise or retaliate against an employee who, in good faith, lodges a grievance of sexual harassment.
(6) Criminal and civil charges: A victim of sexual assault has the right to press separate criminal and civil charges against an alleged perpetrator, and the legal rights of the victim are in no way limited by this code.
(7) Dispute resolution: Should a complaint of alleged sexual harassment not be satisfactorily resolved by the internal procedures set out above, either party may, within 30 days of the dispute having arisen, refer the matter to the CCMA for conciliation by the provisions of section 135 of this Act. Should the dispute remain unresolved, either party may refer the dispute to the Labour Court within 30 days of receipt of the certificate issued by the commissioner in terms of section 135(5).
8. Confidentiality
(1) Employers and employees must ensure that grievances about sexual harassment are investigated and handled in a manner that ensures that the identities of the persons involved are kept confidential.
(2) In sexual harassment cases, management, employees, and the parties concerned must ensure confidentiality in the disciplinary enquiry. Only appropriate members of management, as well as the aggrieved person, representative, alleged perpetrator, witnesses and interpreter, if required, must be present in the disciplinary enquiry.
(3) Employers are required to disclose to either party or to their representatives such information as may be reasonably necessary to enable the parties to prepare for any proceedings in terms of this code.(4) The relevant provisions of section 16 of this Act will apply to the disclosure of information in terms of this code.
9. Additional sick leave
Where an employee’s existing sick leave entitlement has been exhausted, the employer should give due consideration to granting additional sick leave in cases of serious sexual harassment where the employee, on medical advice, requires trauma counselling.
10. Information and education
(1) The Department of Labour should ensure that copies of this code are accessible and available.
(2) Employers and employer organisations should include the issue of sexual harassment in their employees’ orientation, education, and training programmes.
(3) Trade unions should include the issue of sexual harassment in their education and training programmes of shop stewards and employees.
(4) CCMA commissioners should receive specialised training to deal with sexual harassment
Sexual Abuse gets stronger in secrecy. Talk to someone. It will help you to stop the abuse.
Quiz
If you are unsure if what you experience is sexual abuse, you can do a self-test to learn more:
Sources
¹Preventing Sexual Harassment (BNA Communications, Inc.) SDC IP .73 1992 manual
http://wlce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Sexual-Harassment-at-Work-Booklet.pdf