Quid pro quo Definition

Examples of Workplace Scenarios

1. Promotion Pressure: A manager tells an employee they will only receive a promotion if they agree to go on a date or perform a personal favor.
2. Training Discrimination: A supervisor excludes an employee from essential training opportunities unless the employee complies with inappropriate requests.
3. Performance Review Retaliation: An employee receives a negative performance review after rejecting a superior’s advances, despite having met or exceeded work expectations.

Impact of Quid Pro Quo in the Workplace

• According to recent studies, nearly 12,000 cases of quid pro quo harassment are reported to workplace compliance agencies annually, with many more likely going unreported. (Source: EEOC)
• These cases often result in costly legal settlements, decreased morale, and damaged company reputations.

Related Resources

• Topics to Cover in Workplace Harassment Training
  Learn about essential areas to include in your training program, including handling quid pro quo situations.
• Infographic Download: How to Characterize Conduct – A Decision Tree for Employees
  Equip your team with this simple, actionable guide to determine if conduct crosses the line into harassment.

Video Example: Quid Pro Quo in Action

Here’s a short video example from our course Preventing Workplace Harassment showcasing a workplace scenario illustrating quid pro quo harassment and its impact.