Is Being Asked Out On A Date Sexual Harassment in Chicago?
My Chicago office gets many calls regarding what is sexual harassment in Illinois. Of course there are certain actions that are easy to identify as sexual harassment. But sometimes there are gray areas on what is sexual harassment. For example if a co-worker asks you out for a date one time that would not be sexual harassment. But if you keep turning him down and he doesn't stop that could be considered sexual harassment. Or perhaps after you turn him down he starts acting like a jerk at work and starts saying nasty things about you--that would be sexual harassment. In this type of situation it s a case by case basis. The facts will matter and should be evaluated by an employment lawyer.
Now if the person asking you out is your supervisor or another person in management who has any type of control over you, it may be sexual harassment the first time. The reason is that if you turn the person down you could feel that it would impact your job. And if you turn the boss down and something bad does happen at work, even if it isn't tied directly to turning him down for a date, it sure looks bad. It is a very bad practice for management to ask out employees. So if you are at work and are being asked out for a date and you don't want to go out, you have options. Contact an employment lawyer and find out if you are the victim of discrimination in the form of sexual harassment. If you are we can file a complaint at the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
