Five Signs of Sexual Harassment You Should Never Ignore
Sexual harassment often starts subtly. Learn the five warning signs you should never ignore, how to recognize inappropriate behavior early, and what steps to take to protect yourself and others.
Dec 19, 2025
Sexual harassment remains a critical issue in workplaces, affecting individuals’ safety, dignity, and performance. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received nearly 11,500 sex-based harassment complaints in workplaces in 2020 alone. Many of these cases go completely unreported. Often, victims worry about retaliation and are unaware of their rights. Therefore, recognizing the early signs of sexual harassment is the first step to stop it from causing harm. When you know what you need to watch out for, you can protect yourself and others effectively. Read on to learn how to recognize harassment, key warning signs, actual harassment behaviors, and more.
Read More: Common Examples Of Sexual Harassment
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment is any unwanted behavior of a sexual nature that makes a person feel disrespected, unsafe, or uncomfortable. It can take place in the form of online interactions, physical actions, or words. Recognizing the signs of sexual harassment is crucial. It’s because they are sometimes subtle at first, such as inappropriate comments or jokes, before transforming into something more severe. Through awareness, individuals can act early to safeguard themselves from such things.
According to a federal survey conducted back in 2021, it was found that 17.48% of the respondents experienced sexual harassment behaviors. They have experience over the last 2 years. Apart from that, 92% of individuals reported that they had received training on how to stop harassment.
Furthermore, 93% said that training explained how to respond. However, only 77% of them believed the training to be effective. All these figures show the training certainly helps, but identifying all the actual signs of sexual harassment still matters deeply.
Read More: What is Sexual Harassment? Know Your Rights
Top Five Warning Signs of Workplace Harassment
There are many warning signs of sexual harassment, and if you see them, you should not ignore them. The following are the top five signs that might signal deeper issues.
Constant Unwanted Jokes
When a person repeatedly makes sexual comments and jokes about appearance, looks, etc, or uses suggestive language, these are warning signs of sexual harassment. Even when an individual says, “It’s a joke” and keeps on repeating the behavior, this can create discomfort. The law considers unwelcome and constant comments as harassment. Roughly 34% of the female workers have said that a colleague has sexually harassed them.
Physical Contact Without Consent
Brushing, patting, hugging or touching without a person’s consent is also an important sign. This might indicate invading a person’s private space repeatedly. Even when the contact is trying to be friendly. If their friendly nature makes a person unsafe or uncomfortable, it's counted as sexual harassment. Every employer must stop such contact, based on the workplace harassment laws.
Requesting Sexual Favors
One of the most crucial warning signs of workplace harassment is asking someone for sexual favors. This is done in return for avoiding fines, for promotions and job perks. When a person with influence or a supervisor does this, it’s completely illegal. This is one of the clearest forms of sexual harassment. Every worker should recognize this sign and report it immediately.
Creating an Offensive or Hostile Work Setting
Harassment is not only about isolated events. If actions like verbal, visual, etc, create an atmosphere of fear or hostility, that’s a red flag. This includes persistent sexual images or constant remarks that undermine dignity. It may lower morale, increase turnover, and even harm mental health.
Punishment or Retaliation for Resistance or Complaints
One of the primary warning signs of sexual harassment is retaliation. This takes place when an individual who resists or complains about harassment gets punished instead of being protected. Such punishments can come in the form of demotion, unfair shift changes, or exclusion. The fear of retaliation usually stops individuals from speaking up. However, it's essential to keep in mind that the law protects individuals. Retaliation stands out as a serious signal that should not be overlooked.
Read More: Why Didn’t They Report? The Silence Surrounding Sexual Harassment
How to Deal with Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
The sexual harassment at work is unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prevents discrimination based on sex. The EEOC enforces this specific law and investigates all complaints. When you experience harassment, you should do the following:
Recognize the Behavior: Find out if the job advantages are conditioned on sexual favors. You should also check whether the workplace environment is hostile or unwelcoming.
Document the Incident: You must keep precise records of the harassment. This includes descriptions, locations, times and dates. It's crucial to save all relevant communications, like messages and emails.
Report About Harassment Internally: You must notify your HR department or employer about the incident. Make sure to observe the company's methods for reporting harassment.
File a Complaint with the EEOC: When the internal reporting doesn't help with the problem, file a complaint with the EEOC. You should make the complaint within 180 days of the incident.
Obtain Legal Advice: Be sure to consult with an attorney. The attorney you choose must be an expert in employment law to understand your options and rights.
Understand the Employer Responsibilities. Employers should take immediate action to address harassment. They are accountable for harassment by supervisors and might be answerable for co-worker harassment. This will only happen if they knew or should've known and did not act timely.
Know Your Rights Against Retaliation: It's completely illegal for employers to retaliate against workers for reporting harassment.
When you follow all these steps, you can address the signs of sexual harassment effectively. It will also help you make sure that your workplace is completely safe.
Read More: Sexual Harassment at Work: Know the Types and Risks
Protect Yourself and Your Colleagues: Start Training Now!
The signs of sexual harassment come in various forms. It could be pressure for sexual favors or inappropriate and subtle remarks. With countless cases reported yearly, it's evident that sexual harassment remains a massive workplace problem. Employers also bear legal and ethical responsibility to eliminate and address such misconduct. When you understand the legal protections and concrete behaviors, it will help you navigate all these challenges easily.
So, don't wait for things to escalate. Equip yourself today with the correct knowledge to address and detect sexual harassment. Enroll in our comprehensive Sexual Harassment Training today. Get a proper understanding of sexual harassment and learn about the responses to create a respectful workplace culture for all!
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