BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when any of the following situations occur:
• Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly as a term or condition of a person’s job, pay, or career.
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct by a person is used as a basis for career or employment decisions affecting that person.
• Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
This definition emphasizes that harassment need not result in tangible psychological harm to the victim. But rather need only be so severe or pervasive that a reasonable person would perceive, and the victim does perceive, the work environment as hostile or offensive. Workplace is an expansive term for military members and may include conduct on or off duty, 24 hours a day.
Any person in a supervisory or command position who uses or condones any form of sexual behavior to control, influence, or affect the career, pay, or job of a military member or civilian employee is engaging in sexual harassment.
Similarly, any military member or civilian employee who makes deliberate or repeated unwelcome verbal comments, gestures, or physical contact of a sexual nature in the workplace is also engaging in sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment is totally unacceptable conduct. It undermines the integrity of the military, debilitates morale, and interferes with the work productivity of the organization.
Air Force members are responsible for ensuring work environments are free from sexual harassment. The difference starts with us.
For questions or more information, please contact the 940th Military Equal Opportunity office.