The 1990s will go down as the decade of sexual harassment claims. Anita Hill testified before the U.S. Senate; Paula Jones filed a suit against a sitting president; Sergeant Gene McKinney, the Army’s top enlisted soldier, resigned his rank after successfully defending himself before an Army tribunal; and last, but certainly not least, the Monica Lewinsky matter glued national attention to the complex issues involving workplace sexual conduct.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in turn, decided four sexual harassment cases during its 1997-1998 term. These headline-making stories and decisions increased awareness of sexual harassment issues, and this heightened awareness fueled the recent flurry of sexual harassment suits. Now, more than ever, employers must adopt, implement and enforce appropriate measures to prohibit workplace sexual harassment.
