quid pro quo harassment

Definition

Sexual harassment where job benefits are conditioned on sexual favors, Latin for 'something for something' but creepy. The workplace equivalent of 'sleep with me or you're fired.'

Example Usage

The executive was terminated after multiple employees reported quid pro quo harassment involving promotion decisions.

Origin

From Latin 'quid pro quo' (something for something), applied to harassment law in the 1970s

Fun Fact

Unlike hostile work environment claims, quid pro quo cases require just one proven incident to establish liability—quality over quantity in all the wrong ways.

Source: Employment and civil rights law terminology

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