There is a fine line between casually flirting with colleagues and being slapped with a sexual harassment claim.
And Washington State University wants you to toe it.
A new study by the college suggests that “positively experienced social sexual behavior”—light-hearted banter among coworkers—can help relieve stress.
In a paper published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, researchers draw clear distinctions between “relatively harmless” interactions and the persistent, unwanted acts of sexual harassment that create anxiety and tension.
“Some flirting is happening, and it seems pretty benign,” WSU assistant professor Leah Sheppard, first author on the paper, said in a statement.
Along with researchers from the US, Canada, and the Netherlands, Sheppard examined non-harassing social sexual behavior—including what she calls “sexual storytelling” (jokes, innuendoes) and flirtatious behavior (coy glances, compliments on physical appearance).
The team analyzed various surveys featuring responses from people in North America and the Philippines, collected before and after the #MeToo movement began.
It turns out most employees were neutral about sexual storytelling, but felt positively about flirtation.
“What we found is that when flirtation is enjoyed, it can offer some benefits,” according to Sheppard. “It makes people feel good about themselves, which can then protect them from stressors in their lives.”
On-the-job coquetry even helped alleviate some folks’ insomnia.
That’s all well and good—until someone goes too far.
To avoid those situations, some workplaces have introduced zero-tolerance policies toward sexual behavior, like the five-second stare limit reportedly in place at Netflix, or NBC’s ban on sharing cab rides and guidelines for coworker hugging.
“Zero-tolerance rules can add awkwardness into what are pretty naturally occurring behaviors within established friendships,” Sheppard explained. “At the same time, we’re not encouraging managers to facilitate this behavior. This is just something that probably organically happens.
“Managers also should be careful in engaging in flirtation themselves, especially with anyone at a lower level,” she continued. “As soon as there’s a power imbalance, you risk entering the domain of what might be perceived as sexual harassment.”
Just remember: Consent is everything and no means no.
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