In general, sexual harassment means any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. There are two forms of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment entails some sort of exchange.
Typically, an employee must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct in exchange for receiving a term or condition of employment, such as a promotion, benefits, or the job itself. If unwelcome sexual conduct unreasonably interferes with an employee's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment, the employer may also be liable for sexual harassment. This form of sexual harassment is known as hostile environment. Generally, for such conduct to be sexual harassment, it must be sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim's employment and create an abusive working environment. An employer may also be liable for actions of persons other than supervisors who commit sexual harassment.