Proving Quid Pro Quo in the Workplace
To succeed in a quid pro quo-based lawsuit, a worker must establish someone made sexual advances, requested sexual favors, made verbal remarks, or engaged in conduct of a sexual nature. In addition to proving that someone at work engaged in sexually suggestive conduct, the worker must also establish that the sexual advances and requests were the explicit or implicit basis for hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, or any other employment decision.
With quid pro quo harassment, a worker does not need to establish that their supervisor has committed an ongoing pattern of repeated sexual harassment. Often, showing one instance of an employment decision based on the refusal to accept sexual advances is sufficient.
If a worker believes they have suffered from quid pro quo harassment, they should begin by taking notes and documenting exactly what happened. Our compassionate local attorneys could review the notes and help. Our legal team could investigate the incident by speaking to coworkers and other people familiar with the hiring and employment decision-making process.
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