Not all work places in Minnesota offer a work environment free from harassment. Despite warnings and training against sexual harassment, situations of this nature still occur in both private and public workplaces. Sometimes, the alleged perpetrator of the harassment is a person who uses their position of power to commit such acts. However, sexual harassment is against the law.
The former president of the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers has left his position after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced. According to one document, a woman had engaged in a conversation with the man regarding their families when the man invaded her personal space, grabbed her hand and kissed her face, all while whispering something in her ear. In a separate email, a second woman claimed she was sexually harassed by the same man.
In 2014, the county where the man worked settled a claim with a woman alleging retaliation after reporting sexual harassment on the part of the man. The woman reported that the man had sexually harassed others at a job he previously held and that the man stared at her breasts. The man was disciplined, but he was still hired for another position.
Reports of sexual harassment are extremely troubling. Victims of sexual harassment may suffer physical and emotional trauma, and they may fear retaliation if they report the incident. Such retaliation is unlawful, but it does happen. If a person is sexually harassed in the workplace and their complaints are not acted upon or if they are retaliated against after filing a complaint, they may want to discuss their situation with a legal professional so they can determine what steps to take next.