A form of sexual harassment where job benefits are exchanged for sexual favors or other forms of compliance, quid pro quo literally means “this for that” in Latin, signifying an exchange of something of value. The term originated from 16th-century legal contexts, where it referred to the substitution of one thing for another. In modern workplace settings, it commonly describes situations where an authority figure abuses their position of power, demanding favors in exchange for promotions, raises, or job security.
Emtrain’s harassment training course is engaging, interactive, and designed to spot and reduce EEO risk.
The concept of “quid pro quo” originates from Latin, meaning “something for something.” Historically, the term was used in legal and economic contexts to describe exchanges of equal value. In the workplace, quid pro quo harassment emerged as a legal concept in the mid-20th century as more protections against workplace discrimination and harassment were codified, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Over time, courts and lawmakers have clarified that this form of harassment violates an employee’s rights to a safe and equitable working environment.
Here’s a short video example from our course Preventing Workplace Harassment showcasing a workplace scenario illustrating quid pro quo harassment and its impact.