Beyond Pay? 144
An anonymous reader asks: "I was wondering if Slashdot readers have encountered harassment in the workplace, and how they have dealt with it. In particular, when working for
technology-based companies. Examples of this include the company forcing employees to put in extra (unpaid) hours, with the implicit/explicit threat of loosing the job if they don't, to actual personal harassment in the work place by management staff. My experience is that even in cases where the employee is completely right, it is impossible for her to win the case, given current employment law."
Well... (Score:3, Insightful)
Granted, I don't get paid as much as most of you probably do, but I do have one thing going for me:
If my boss treats me like crap, I can quit and find a job with a similar pay rate in pretty much the same day.
Berrik
Age is no excuse (Score:3, Insightful)
Never underestimate the education industry, a lot of the people at most schools are clueless, and it takes a young person to 'mold'to the inbred political culture.
A good idea is to not mention age until you're hired, people at my current job thought I was in my mid to late twenties because of how I carried mys
Re:Age is no excuse (Score:5, Interesting)
Youth has its advantages. The energy, eagerness, and willingness to learn are a few of youth's best traits. It's a threat to all those that don't posess youth or at the least nurture their inner youth. Those without youth (youthless?) are proned to resist change. They are much less open to new ideas. They are less willing to learn new things. All of these things that the youthless lack build what is perceived as a threat. In many cases the youthful out-think and out-work the youthless. The youthful don't try to create conflict but they are frustrated by the youthless that put a stop to all change. A few months ago I contemplated writing a book geared towards youth in the IT sector, based on my own experiences. Age was a major stumbling block at that employer. My youth was hard to accept for a few people, one in particular. That person had their better moments for sure. Unfortunately that person only seemed to take my advice when they needed something from me. It was a difficult time I most assuredly admit. It was a learning experience that I'm glad I received. It is also an situation that I will never fall prey to again.
My advice to the article submitter is simple. Do not under any circumstances take any age-related crap off of anybody. You're an adult in a professional position doing a professional's job. They should respect you and you should respect they. Mutual respect between management and staff is something most institutions lack in this day and age. I feel this lack of respect is the reason employee loyalty and morale is at an all-time low. I made the mistake of avoiding conflict in the early months of that job. I didn't stand up for myself when an age-discriminatory comment was made about me, my knowledge, and my abilities. I put myself in the position of taking grief from one person in particular for over a year until I finally stood up for myself. Bullies in the workplace are just like bullies in junior high. They harrass those that they feel won't fight back. They do this to elevate their own perceived political status. Office bullies, like bullies from Junior High, also back down when their victim bites back. They will inevitably be a long-term enemy but you won't have to accept their daily dose of grief anymore.
Remain civil at all times. You will inevitably be presented with one or more occasions where you are right and they are wrong. Meetings are a great place for this conflict to arise. You'll find that your age will be used as an excuse for why you're viewpoint is wrong. Keep a civil, level-headed tongue. Don't ever be combative. If you remain civil and never let yourself become flustered, you will drive them to their wits end. Play your cards right and they will lose control. You will however be the calm, cool, and collected individual that operates well under pressure. Acting combative, swearing, and otherwise losing your temper makes you look childish. Let other fill that role. Don't sink to their level. If you can't ignore the conflict and you feel that the upper management will side with you if you're right, document your concerns or objections in writing and submit it to management. There are numerous books that relate very well to this topic. Search around for books on conflict management, conflict resolution, negotiations, etc. You'll find plenty of good reading.
Lo
Re:Age is no excuse (Score:3, Insightful)
I burned some bridges BAD when I worked at a local University, I had no idea how predatory those people who'd been there for decades were. Now I keep EVERY email, I shorthand EVERY phone message, and I write down whatever I can about when people said to me.
It seems to work to have documentation, my last employer tried to pin a lot of shit on the lower ranks (of which I was one), and I always had that request for something impossib
Re:Age is no excuse (Score:2)
Thanks. I learned the hard way: trial and error, lots of them. c'est la vie!
Re:Age is no excuse (Score:2)
Big Ugly, and mean lookin' (Score:5, Funny)
I've never had problems with harassment.
Re:Big Ugly, and mean lookin' (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Big Ugly, and mean lookin' (Score:3, Funny)
Please refrain from causing me to loose my temper. You wont like me when I'm angry...
loose your temper? (Score:1)
Do you normally keep it tied up then?
Not harassment (Score:5, Informative)
Actual harassment, such as sexual harassment, physical intimidation, etc., is a whole other can of worms. You can and should fight this sort of thing, if for no other reason than to ger the person doing it fired. You can easily find a lawyer who will represent you for a percentage of the settlement. Just be prepared to find a new job when it's over.
Re:Not harassment (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:Not harassment (Score:3, Insightful)
Classic dilemma -- we have two vocabularies. Common usage, and legal definitions.
Obviously, this can be indeed be a form of harassment in the common usage of the term, but it's not harrasment by any legal definition of the word (in US law, anyway).
Reminds me of a discussion I had with an aviation liability lawyer. He told me that there's no such thing as a "frivolous lawsuit". I cited many examples, but he wouldn't budge on his claim th
Re:Not harassment (Score:2)
You just described "At-will employment". "Right to work" means that you can get a job at (for example) a factory and not join the labor union.
LK
What constitutes harrassment? (Score:5, Interesting)
Projects that I was on before he started were slowly being given to other people, and he joking around finally got to me. I asked him to stop, and it just got worse. And he got spiteful about it.
Eventually it escalated to the point where I told him to fuck off and I walked out. Yeah, probably a bit childish, but I don't wanna be in a workplace where I have to go to HR and deal with jackasses who can't look past a person's physical appearance.
I guy that was younger than me, with less experience and definintely less knowledge, got promoted to a position I applied for, but he looked much older than I did. That kind of shit is plain wrong, but almost impossible to prove. And it happens everywhere.
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't know if you're male or female, but I'll assume you're male like most slashdotters.
Grow a beard/mustache and add some grey color to your temples. It makes you look older & more responsible.
Personally, I dislike facial hair. But it creates the impression of age, if that is your problem.
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:5, Insightful)
Pretty decent manager though.... far better than the other ones around there.
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:2, Interesting)
I have the same problem, and growing a beard is not an option. The best I can manage is peachfuzz which would make me look *even younger*.
Your advice about grey color... hmm. Might be something to think about, or it might just make me look strange.
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:2)
What makes workplaces so difficult is that humans over millenia have developed innate expectations based on appearances. Women who come to work made up to look post-orgasmic with a perfect complexion (the root purpose of cosmetics) really do distract the men, whether they realize it or not. Look at the presidential races, right now--who looks more "presidential", Kerry or Edwards? Part of growing up as a civilization is finding ways beyond this, but humans are still very very
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:2)
I guess Bush is right out, then?
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:3, Funny)
Every month, I think I see Bush featured in Mad magazine, but, even after reading the interview, it eventually sinks in that good ol' Alfred fooled me again.
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:2)
...until I hear what was said. Alfred's usually smarter than that.
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:1, Flamebait)
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:1)
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:2)
Which looks more like a narn from Babylon 5?
Someone needs to photoshop a picture of G'Kerry for us...
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:2, Insightful)
Eventually it escalated to the point where I told him to fuck off and I walked out
Maybe it was not your appearance, but your maturity level that he had an issue with...
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:2)
You wont get anywhere with the forced overtime because you are a computer professional, but if you were singled out about your appearance, that is text book discrimination. Trick is, you have to prove it.
Re:What constitutes harrassment? (Score:5, Informative)
This morning when I had McDonalds for breakfast, I discriminated against the Egg McMuffin by having a Sausage Egg McMuffin, just as I discriminated against Burger King by going to Mcdonalds.
Funny thing about harassment and discrimination is that unless it breaks the law, you're safe.
Example: In my state (South Dakota) I had some major problems with a professor (who I am happy to say I eventually helped to get removed) and claimed he was harassing me as well as making it very difficult for me to go to his class, unfortunately, the university and the law enforcement could do little because I am not a member of a protected class.
White privilege my ass! The 'American White Male Aged 18-24' is the most discriminated against class in the US currently, and because I am one of those, nor part of a religion which is favored, they couldn't do a thing about it.
Note: If I'm not mistake, this harassment was classified as 'unprofessionalism' as they were building a case to get rid of him.
Oh, c'mon! (Score:5, Interesting)
As far as being bullied into working unpaid hours, don't. It's that simple. You don't want to work for a company that bullies it's employees. The employment market is bad, but not bad enough to stay in a situation like that.
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:2)
I've been the manager that had an employee commit sexual harassment of several women in our very small office. He was flagrant about it. I had information from multiple women that he was doing it. (What's worse is the idiot had a wife 7 months pregnant!) He wasn't fired, but was put on notice that it had to stop immediately. That nonsense ended, but he had plenty of OTHER issues that made him a real problem.
When he chose to go to another job, we all wished him
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:2, Interesting)
when did it change from "happily" to "happily and faithful" ??
I dont mean anything towards you,
just society in general has created a need for such a qualification.
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:2)
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:2)
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:4, Funny)
I got fired once because as the boss said "You get here when we open, and you leave when we close." They wanted someone to "give more" than the 45 hours per week that I was putting in.
My favorite part of this story is what comes next...They fired me because I wasn't putting in more free hours, but they guy that they kept ended up laying the bone to the Boss's wife. When the divorce got ugly and they had financial problems, the other guy bought the business out of bankruptcy. So the guy who fired me lost his business and his wife to the guy that he choose to keep instead of me.
I love that part of the story!
LK
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:2)
Ain't karma grand? (Not the /. karma, the regular kind.)
Re:Oh, c'mon! (Score:3, Insightful)
Good (Score:1, Insightful)
If you don't want them as a customer, quit selling your labor to them. Don't whine and bitch and look for someone to sue.
Re:Good (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Good (Score:1)
"loosing the job..." (Score:3, Funny)
Paper trail! (Score:5, Informative)
Interview questions. (Score:4, Interesting)
He is of Middle Eastern ansectory and has an Arabic last name. They asked him where he is from. As soon as he told them he is from the ME, their next question was "So learning to fly planes?" There were 2 other interviewers in the room, and all they were doing was laughing.
My friend was a bit puzzled, but kept on answering the questions with a smile. He didn't really know these questions were inappropriate. Well later that day he did get a job offer from them, so all seems to be good.
Later on he found out that he was one of the 5 candidates who applied for the job, and the others were not even close to being qualified for the job.
He isn't pissed or anything, but me and him always wondered if he had would have considered this harassment and taken it to court, how exactly does one go about proving that such things were said?
Re:Interview questions. (Score:1)
Re:Interview questions. (Score:1)
Re:Interview questions. (Score:5, Insightful)
So he got a job to work with a company where derogatory and demeaning remarks are acceptable? That doesn't sound "good" to me.
There's more to a job than a paycheck.
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
Very well put! It looks like you and I think alike [slashdot.org]. No job is worth taking grief over. It's not healthy for you and the quality of your work will not be something you can say you're proud of. Move on a find a better job. Don't settle for something that will give you ulcers.
Re:Interview questions. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
I agree with you here. But my question was that if it was degrading or not. Not if it opened them up to legal issues.
Re:Interview questions. (Score:3, Insightful)
Sure you can. All you want. But NOT IN A JOB INTERVIEW! My having a spouse, or a funny accent, or a different god, is not a factor in my ability to perform a job. If, as an interviewer, you ask such a question, and it is answered, I can argue that you used the answer to discriminate against me during the hiring process. Likewise, if you hired me, everyone you didn't hire can argue that my answers to these questions denied them the job.
If yo
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
If they continue this once he works there, then it could be harrassment.
Your friend did the right move in answering and smiling. He could always say "No" to their offer later if it really bothered him.
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
Asking if a person is married is most likely legal in fact I know that it is required for many retirement plans.
Re:Interview questions. (Score:3, Informative)
But that comes after you are hired. You can't ask (in the US) a job candidate if they are married (because it might indicate an intent to discriminate on gender), nor their age, religion, racial/ethnic background, stuff like that. A lot of times it's pretty obvious--such as when the candidate is wearing a wedding band--and of course the candidate frequently brings these issues up, such as on
Additional rights? (Score:3, Insightful)
For example:
I drive a station wagon. Some other drivers don't like that.
I like Linux. Some people think that it's nerdy to use Linux.
I like Mac OS X. Some computer users (eve n some linux-likers) look down on me for that.
I like to go for walks. Some people get upset when others get exercise while they sit.
I like to sing. Some people don't like the kind of songs I sing.
It is conceivable that an argument could be made that each of those
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
Re:Interview questions. (Score:1)
One HR person at a previous company provided us with a helpful "no-no" list, which included questions about:
birthplace
citizenship
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
Why is it inappropriate to ask him if he is Gay, married, or has a girlfriend?
Your conduct outside of the workplace can reflect upon your employer. Sure it may have been a tech job, but what if one of the company's flagship products is a finance package for churches? If their business would be directly harmed by it becoming general knowledge that their "Church F
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
They do not.
However, they do have a legitimate reason to inform the candidate of the situation, perhaps by saying something like, "One of our products is a finance package for churches. As such, many of our clients are conservative Christians. They have certain...expectations of us, as a company, and as employe
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
Yes they do.
Cracker Barrel terminated 11 homosexual employees [aclu.org] in 1991 because they did not conform to their "family friendly" image.
Even more, there wasn't a thing any of them could do about it. Sexual preference is not legally protected in most states.
LK
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
Re:Interview questions. (Score:2)
Re:Interview questions. (Score:1, Flamebait)
Not much... (Score:4, Funny)
I have a very different situation. The girl who works with me in my office is constantly demanding attention of a sexual nature that is totally inappropriate to a working environment. She often makes explicit comments about my appearance. Sometimes, she exposes herself to me, and makes comments of a graphic nature. I, of course, indulge her.
I should also mention that I'm self employed, and work at home with my wife
Re:Not much... (Score:5, Funny)
I should also mention that I'm self employed, and work at home with my wife
It could be worse!!
My boss use to exposes me to porn all the time and then used to fondle me.
I was self-employed at the time and diden't have any employees.
Beware inertia and fear (Score:5, Insightful)
So you hate the place you work? Why are you still working there?
Look at it this way. You are the victim of a faulty syllogism:
Why do you have to be a software engineer? Is it because you like the job? Well, taken as a whole you don't appear to like your job.
Is it the pay? Well, do you have time to enjoy the pay?
I don't want to oversimplify this, because if you demand respect, you may end up with respect but no job. But if you start from the position that you need this job to survive then your prospects are grim.
On the other hand if you start from the attitude that you can survive without this job, and that every person has a right to dignity and a personal life, you can make a rational decision about where to draw the line. You have your line, your boss has his line, and the space in the middle is where you can negotiate changes without having to issue an ultimatum. If you're boss's line is behind your line, then you have to look for another job.
So, we've established that you should attempt to negotiate working condition improvements. How do you do it? There's no magic formula becuase it depends on your boss. Of course, if your boss is a narcissitic jerk, then there is no hope, and you have to pull the plug on the relationship. I'd suggest that you point out he can get more out of his employees if they are happy and willing. Appeal to his sense of leadership. A little fear now and then is a good thing, but a constant atmosphere of fear and powerlessness is poisonous to productivity.
I manage a highly productive development team. Any one of them would, if I asked, willingly put in an 80+ hour week. The key here is willing. My management problem is that I actually have to throttle them back so they don't repeatedly throw themselves into the breach. Today I have people taking an enforced four day weekend because they gave up their last weekend. I just tell other managers they can't keep going to the same well over and over without consequences in quality and productivity. I express sincere gratitude for efforts above and beyond, and find various little ways to reward and acknolewdge them. The result is we have a lot more fun, and in an emergency I can call any of them on 8PM on a Friday and they will gladly come in for the weekend. Respect and cameraderie are incredibly powerful management tools.
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:5, Insightful)
Unfortunatly, he represents 1% of management...*sigh*
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:2)
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:3, Informative)
FYI, you should make 3.5 times your annual salary in a body business (engineering, consulting, or the equivalent), to be a profitable employee. If you are currently bringing in a higher multiple, then you should get a raise. A lower multiple, and you are probably just out of luck.
Make sure you take credit for what you do, and people know your value to the organization.
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:2)
What I suspect some other guys are making, 60-70k. What they earned the company? 0k after their paychecks were paid, just broke even, project didn't even ship because they're morons who get away with whatever they like because their children play with the CFOs children, go to church together, etc.
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:2)
it sucks, but i've found it to be true.
good luck! just keep careful track of your billable/profitable hours, and ask for a 'performance review' every quarter or so. Ask what you can do/learn, in addition to what you already do, to make your 50-60k.
maybe ask for a performance bonus for meeting certain predefined milestones?
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:4, Insightful)
In the meantime, suggest to him this is a problem youlve both agreed upon, and you'd like to work towards a long term solution. Naturally this would include higher pay and career advancement in the not-so-long term, but in the short term you might settle for more vacation, comp time, better equipment, more say in projects: you know. Anything that matters to you and is easy for him. It's like writing a complaint letter: be specific about what the other guy needs to do to make you happy.
You may even get farther on the salary front with this approach. Remember yor boss's job is, to be brutally frank, to get your services as cheap as possible. If your boss can look you in the face, tell you he's paying less than you are worth, he's pretty sure you aren't going anywhere unless you're kicked out.
The problem with coders is they'd just like to code and be taken care of. This is why management doesn't respect them. Management seldome cares or knows anything about the care and feeding of coders. So if you just go to your boss, complain that your job and pay sucks, then go dutifully back to the grindstone, then your problems are easy to ignore, aren't they?
I don't recommend bravado or ultimatums, just quietly project that you know how to take care of yourself. The only way to get what you're worth is to look out for yourself.
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:1)
Re:Beware inertia and fear (Score:1)
What about "Hotlines" (Score:3, Interesting)
Many bigger companies have an "Ethics Compliance Hotline" that is supposedly "Confidential". Has anyone every used one? Was it effective?
Of course, these situations are highly political. So, you call the hotline, the boss gets canned and give you a real mean look on the way out (how many people could have squealed, anyway).
Re:What about "Hotlines" (Score:3, Interesting)
Your rights as I see them (Score:2)
Second, my actual opinion on the matter:
Employment is a type of contract like any other. If you don't like it find a way (under the terms of the contract) to renegotiate or get out of it.
Many states mandate at will employment meaning either side can end the aggreement at any time for any reason. This is "A
Re:Your rights as I see them (Score:2)
Study your history. That's been tried, and it's been proven that there is a strong need for the government to meddle in such things.
I agree with your other points, though.
lawyer up (Score:5, Informative)
"actual personal harassment"
If you are at the receiving end, take the following steps:
Re:lawyer up (Score:1)
Re:lawyer up (Score:2)
No. You call a lawyer anyway.
Worried about legal fees? In many types of cases, the lawyer can work on a "contingency fee." That means you pay nothing. If you win, the lawyer gets a percentage of your judgment. You keep the rest.
Don't rely on the Internet. Talk to a lawyer.
In many States there is little you can do (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:In many States there is little you can do (Score:2)
Make 'em sweat a little
Re:In many States there is little you can do (Score:3, Informative)
Re:In many States there is little you can do (Score:1)
Sounds like a startup (Score:2, Insightful)
Time to start stealing stuff (Score:2)
-1, Troll or -1, Flamebait, I can't decide (Score:2, Troll)
What is the problem? (Score:5, Insightful)
And don't I also have a right to go somewhere else, negotiate a better deal, or work by the hour as a contractor?
What is the problem here?
Anyhow, when someone thinks they are getting screwed because they are being forced to work extra hours without pay, the two relevant questions to ask are:
(1) Is the person a salaried aka "exempt" employee?
When they are, there's no legitimate legal claim. The "exempt" pretty much means they have chosen to take a position that is classified as exempt from most labor laws.
But if they're an hourly employee, they are legally entitled to get paid for all of the time they work, and probably higher overtime pay as well.
(2) Okay, so if they are an exempt employee, are they classified correctly according to the law?
The laws on this vary from state to state. In order to be exempt, usually the employee has to make some decisions on their own, have special training, have some control over their work schedule (again, as long as the job gets done), etc.
Many states have laws which make it very easy for pretty much any high-tech position to be exempt, which seems like a good thing to me.
I don't want to be forced to work hourly, because then I might have to accept a lower wage! If my position could not be classified as exempt, the company might lower their hourly offer to account for expected overtime. They may expect to have me work more than 40 hours per week. Then, to make the same money I make now, I'd need to work overtime every week instead of just when needed.
If I felt like my employer wasn't paying me enough (and if I didn't like it), I would focus on getting a better job rather than putting time and energy into a lawsuit.
-=Ivan
Re:What is the problem? (Score:2)
Not necessarily. Lets say an employer represented the job as a 9 to 5, 40 hour a week job and after hiring the employee then required them to work numerous weeks over the advertised number of hours. A reasonable person could say that this is excessive and the employer misrepresented the
IASNAL (Score:2)
Even if it doesn't apply to labor/workplace laws, anyone who personally harrasses you is setting themselves up for a civil and/or criminal court case. You can't tape them saying that stuff (since it breaks wiretapping laws, I believe), but I'd check with a lawyer about it.
I also don't know the labor/employment laws of your state, but I don't think that bringing either kind of case would be grounds for termination.
On the other hand, if you're really getting this kind o
Re:IASNAL (Score:2, Informative)
As a contractor, you have no rights (Score:1, Interesting)
and the problem would be what, exactly? (Score:3, Insightful)
You should look at your employment contract. There are some employment contracts under which you never get paid overtime, and there are others in which you are. In either case, the employer can fire you if he isn't satisfied with your performance. Maybe the fact that your employer tells you to work overtime is a last opportunity he is giving you for making up work you should have been getting done during working hours if you had been reasonably effective (and not been posting on Slashdot).
My experience is that even in cases where the employee is completely right, it is impossible for her to win the case, given current employment law."
Of course, and why not? There is a small set of things your employer cannot fire you (e.g., your race). Anything else is fair game. After all, you yourself wouldn't want to be forced to keep employing a nanny or cleaning lady if you don't like the way she is performing. Why should your employer be forced to do the equivalent, then?
Re:and the problem would be what, exactly? (Score:1)
Re:and the problem would be what, exactly? (Score:2)
Of course, you can. She would probably just quit her job rather than put up with it. And you have the same choice with your employer: either quit or put up with it.
What to do in California (Score:5, Informative)
Implied for contractors... (Score:2)
Currently, I'm in the 'won't cave in and haven't suffered' group.
Harassment (Score:3, Interesting)
Examples of this include the company forcing employees to put in extra (unpaid) hours, with the implicit/explicit threat of loosing the job if they don't
In some states this is illegal. At my last job it was well-known that layoffs were in the works, and the CEO told me that unless I committed to working 60 hour weeks I'd probably be on the list. I agreed and promptly started job-hunting. I quit about a month later, coincidentally right when the 10% pay cut they had announced kicked in. It was very satisfying..
At the post-layoff meeting I was talking with our company lawyer and the CEO, and he she jokingly asked him "So, did you do anything illegal this week?" When he said "No", I mentioned the conversation we'd had and the lawyer's jaw dropped. She admits that employment law isn't her specialty (she mostly does licensing and contracts) but she's pretty sure that what he said was illegal in California.
My experience is that even in cases where the employee is completely right, it is impossible for her to win the case, given current employment law.
I used to be a manager, so I've been through lots of training on this. If you're talking about sexual harassment, there are basically two kinds: "climate" and "quid pro quo". The first is where the harassment makes the company an unpleasant or intolerable place to work. Quid pro quo harassment is an explicit bargain or threat: have sex with me or you won't get the promotion. Both of them are grounds for a lawsuit, but quid pro quo harassment cases are easier to win (juries are more sympathetic). I think they're also worse in a legal sense, like being eligible for punitive damages in addition to actual damages.
Laura, who INAL and all that.