Emerging trends in the workforce have brought about many opportunities; however they have also brought their share of challenges. A prominent trend of diversification has given rise to the stress caused by sexual harassment in the workplace; since women are increasingly becoming a large part of the labor force. Sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that detrimentally affects the work environment or leads to adverse job related consequences for its victims. (McShane, 2001)." Unfortunately, in the real world sexual harassment is not so clearly defined. It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain what constitutes as inappropriate behavior since each organization differs in its atmosphere and values. Conversely, if an organization fails to identify appropriate behavior within its realm, it poses a risk of stressed employees, high turnovers and costly lawsuits (Schaefer, Tudor, 2001). The workplace should be pleasant; employees should feel free to interact without fear of punishment. Employers must develop policies to minimize substantial liability risks, but should not create a working environment that is so oppressive as to drive away employees. Furthermore, applied research suggests that training programs be implemented for both employees and management to clear up any misconceptions and to avoid legal battles.
             One of the main causes of sexual harassment in the workplace is attributed tot organizational romances. This is due to the many situations created in workplaces romances. Sexual harassment can start when relationships end, and there is some form of retaliation. Often there are misconceptions regarding the end of a relationship when one partner no longer wishes to continue to be part of the relationship, leading to inappropriate behavior by the individual who does wish to engage in the relationship. Furthermore, the problem is complicated because the individual may not even realize that...