A Strange Sexual Harassment Claim
July 28th 2006 02:14
A slap on the bum? A bit of dirty talk? What exactly is sexual harassment...?
For starters, sexual harassment is a serious problem in the workplace. Under Australian law, it is a form of sex discrimination and as such, is illegal. Indeed, it may involve an unwanted touch or it may arise from a suggestive word but it is also so much more than that.
The perpetrators can be either male or female and according to HREOC*, it can encompass ANY unwelcome sexual conduct which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated but it excludes conduct which is invited.
A recent case in Japan involved a rather strange harassment claim. Strange, I guess, because it didn’t involve the stereotypical businessman groping his secretary on the backside. Nor did it involve nudity, blasphemous telephone messages or anything else you might expect to hear about in a workplace harassment claim. So what exactly was this particular case about?
It turns out, one government employee forced his female workmate to pluck his beard. Yes, he handed her some tweezers and somehow forced her to pull the whiskers out of his chinny chin chin.
Strange, inappropriate, extremely bizarre but true. The employee was fined $5,000 for his conduct. This case was a big step in terms of social justice for the Japanese, who are often criticised as maintaining rather ‘soft’ sexual harassment laws.
Moral of the story boys and girls? Sexual harassment, in whatever form it may be, is against the law.
*Human Rights Equal Opportunity Commission
For starters, sexual harassment is a serious problem in the workplace. Under Australian law, it is a form of sex discrimination and as such, is illegal. Indeed, it may involve an unwanted touch or it may arise from a suggestive word but it is also so much more than that.
The perpetrators can be either male or female and according to HREOC*, it can encompass ANY unwelcome sexual conduct which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated but it excludes conduct which is invited.
A recent case in Japan involved a rather strange harassment claim. Strange, I guess, because it didn’t involve the stereotypical businessman groping his secretary on the backside. Nor did it involve nudity, blasphemous telephone messages or anything else you might expect to hear about in a workplace harassment claim. So what exactly was this particular case about?
It turns out, one government employee forced his female workmate to pluck his beard. Yes, he handed her some tweezers and somehow forced her to pull the whiskers out of his chinny chin chin.
from www.morguefile.com
Strange, inappropriate, extremely bizarre but true. The employee was fined $5,000 for his conduct. This case was a big step in terms of social justice for the Japanese, who are often criticised as maintaining rather ‘soft’ sexual harassment laws.
Moral of the story boys and girls? Sexual harassment, in whatever form it may be, is against the law.
*Human Rights Equal Opportunity Commission
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Comment by Jay
Comment by Legally Brunette
My Wedding
I didn't even know that men plucked their beards...
Comment by Jay
Comment by Legally Brunette
My Wedding
Jay, maybe you should pluck a hair or two and give the world some insight as to what on earth this employee was thinking! Just make sure you do it yourself, not a female colleague.
I must admit, I'm not exactly a fan of beards but sometimes it can make a guy's face look much more chiselled and manly...