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International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics

AHFE 2018: Advances in Social and Occupational Ergonomics pp 133–140Cite as

Workplace and Sexual Harassment: Time to Take a Second Look at the Law?

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Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 792))

Abstract

With the recent allegations regarding Harvey Weinstein and other famous figures in the entertainment industry taking over the news in recent months, there has been a renewed focus on sexual harassment (SH) worldwide. This paper takes a legal look at SH particularly in Ghana. In its submission, this paper discusses the controversies surrounding the meaning of SH and offers arguments characterizing it as an abuse of power at the workplace. The 21st Century dynamics of the menace are also examined and its prevalence presented in a global context. In conclusion, this paper offers relevant insights for improving Ghana’s laws on SH.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    1992 Constitution of Ghana, Chapter 5, Article 12(2).

  2. 2.

    Criminal Code 1960, Act 29, Section 103.

  3. 3.

    Labour Act 2003, Act 651, Section 175.

  4. 4.

    Labour Act 2003, Act 651, Section 63.

  5. 5.

    Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Servs., Inc., 523 U.S. 75, 118 S. Ct. 998, 140 L. Ed. 2d 201 (1998).

  6. 6.

    Rosas v. Balter Sales Co.

  7. 7.

    EEOC v. Michael Cetta Inc. d/b/a Sparks Steak House.

  8. 8.

    EEOC v. Pitre, Inc.

  9. 9.

    The ComRes Poll for BBC Radio 5 live involved over 2,000 respondents. The survey was necessitated after sexual assault claims were levelled against Harvey Weinstein leading to several other sexual harassment stories.

  10. 10.

    The Employment Equality Act 1998-2005.

  11. 11.

    S.I. No. 208/2012 - Employment Equality Act 1998 (Code of Practice) (Harassment) Order 2012.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School, P.O. Box LG 78, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Olivia Anku-Tsede

  2. Zoe Lexfields, Number 2 Dei Street, East Legon, P.O. Box CT 8350, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

    Emmanuel Adomako Nuako

  3. Department of Human Resource Management, J.S. Addo Business School, Marshalls University College, P.O. Box KB781, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana

    Reginald Arthur

  4. Faculty of Law, University of Professional Studies, Accra, P.O. Box LG149, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Adwoa Sarpong Boakye Yiadom

Authors
  1. Olivia Anku-Tsede
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  2. Emmanuel Adomako Nuako
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  3. Reginald Arthur
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  4. Adwoa Sarpong Boakye Yiadom
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivia Anku-Tsede .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands

    Richard H. M. Goossens

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Anku-Tsede, O., Adomako Nuako, E., Arthur, R., Yiadom, A.S.B. (2019). Workplace and Sexual Harassment: Time to Take a Second Look at the Law?. In: Goossens, R. (eds) Advances in Social and Occupational Ergonomics. AHFE 2018. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 792. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94000-7_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94000-7_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93999-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-94000-7

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