Workplace Harassment: An Essay

Running head: WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: AN ESSAY
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

1WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: AN ESSAY
The respective essay is about an article on sexual harassment in the workplace named
“Zero Tolerance- can it work in a unionized environment?” and actions that are deemed to be
taken in favor of the victim. The paper focuses on the perils of the women workers and laborers
in the arena of a male dominated work environment where they get continuously harassed,
physically, psychologically and sexually, especially in the workplaces which requires physical
labor, such as in construction sites and mines. However, the paper also focuses on the ethical
dilemmas the company managers and board of directors face when they are to confront with
conflicting laws.
The case which triggered the ethics and the policies of the respective Canadian
organization was the sexual harassment (groping) of a female potash mine worker by a male
worker who, when interrogated, gave a statement that it was a “casual gesture” and nothing
personal was associated with it. However, the very statement of such gruesome act being
“casual” undermines the reputation of the woman and portrays her as an object of pleasure and a
sexual toy which can be played and touched whenever the perpetrator feels to do so. Such act is
strongly condemned throughout the world and is unethical and completely immoral as it severely
hurts the respect, dignity and integrity of the women folk.
The incidents of sexual harassment came into being after the women folk were slowly
and gradually given the place in the outer professional world, in industries, educational
institutions, factories, banks and offices. However, as more women were encouraged to join the
workforce with men and stay there, more cases of sexual harassment along with more intolerance
of sexual harassment was being observed throughout the world, though in certain third world
countries, the condition of working women are obnoxious. Zero tolerance is a new word
introduced by the corporate law that calls for an immediate action for any kind of misconduct