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Woman alleges male colleague sexually harassed her at work, takes case to court
Equality watchdog on Friday filed a writ on behalf of a woman to a court, alleging that her male colleague sexually harassed her in the workplace, including staring at her chest when her clothes got wet in the rain.
The Equal Opportunities Commission submitted the Notice of Claim to District Court yesterday (Friday). The woman was identified as “C” under the an anonymity order granted by the court.
C in the writ said that former male colleague sexually harassed her in the workplace on a number of occasions. She alleged that the colleague made unwelcome physical contact like stroking her back and giving her unwelcome attention of a sexual nature by staring at her chest when her clothes got wet in the rain during a workplace event.
Under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, sexual harassment occurs if the harasser engages in any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to the victim in circumstances in which a reasonable person would have anticipated that the victim would be offended, humiliated, or intimidated.
Further, sexual harassment also occurs if the harasser, alone or together with other persons, engages in conduct of a sexual nature which creates a hostile or intimidating environment for the victim.
The commission said there continues to be a considerable number of cases whereby employees were exposed to sexual harassment in the workplace.
From 2017 to 2020, the commission received 519 sexual harassment complaints, representing 45 percent of all the complaints received under the ordinance.
The equality watchdog hoped taking this case to court will raise public awareness that a person making unwelcome physical contact and giving unwelcome attention of a sexual nature to a co-worker in the workplace may constitute sexual harassment.
C in the writ said that former male colleague sexually harassed her in the workplace on a number of occasions. She alleged that the colleague made unwelcome physical contact like stroking her back and giving her unwelcome attention of a sexual nature by staring at her chest when her clothes got wet in the rain during a workplace event.
Under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance, sexual harassment occurs if the harasser engages in any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in relation to the victim in circumstances in which a reasonable person would have anticipated that the victim would be offended, humiliated, or intimidated.
Further, sexual harassment also occurs if the harasser, alone or together with other persons, engages in conduct of a sexual nature which creates a hostile or intimidating environment for the victim.
The commission said there continues to be a considerable number of cases whereby employees were exposed to sexual harassment in the workplace.
From 2017 to 2020, the commission received 519 sexual harassment complaints, representing 45 percent of all the complaints received under the ordinance.
The equality watchdog hoped taking this case to court will raise public awareness that a person making unwelcome physical contact and giving unwelcome attention of a sexual nature to a co-worker in the workplace may constitute sexual harassment.
