While many laws have been passed to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace, harassment still does happen. Those most at risk for enduring sexual harassment include immigrants, women and those in lower-paying jobs. Florida, like many other states, is working toward creating safer work environments for these high-risk individuals.
Low-wage workers and tipped workers
Those who work for tips fall into the lower-wage worker category. Many of these individuals do not report harassment when it happens to them from customers. This is due to the fact that they believe it will jeopardize their income. With the federal minimum wage for tipped workers sitting at just $2.13, it’s no surprise that many of these workers will stay quiet just to ensure that they earn income for their families.
Apart from harassment from customers, many of these tipped workers also do not report harassment from their superiors. They know that their supervisor has the power to assign them particular shifts. All tipped employees know that certain shifts yield better tips than others. By reporting harassment, some workers fear that they will be switched to shifts that yield fewer tips and, therefore, a lower income.
Immigrant workers
One class of workers that is constantly a target of sexual harassment is the immigration sector. Some of these individuals have a language barrier that hampers their ability to get help when they need it. In addition, many immigrants are not familiar with the sexual harassment laws in the United States. What may be acceptable in their country of origin is not in the United States.
When it comes to sexual harassment in the workplace, employers and legislators are still working toward eliminating it. Certain groups are at a higher risk of being harassed, but this can happen to anyone. A person who has been harassed or discriminated against on the job may wish to seek legal help.