What Is Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment?

 Posted on December 27, 2025 in Sexual Harassment & LGBTQ Rights

While more and more people have become aware of sexual harassment, it continues to be a problem in workplaces across Maryland and throughout the United States. For workers in Maryland, understanding what constitutes sexual harassment can be essential, and knowing how to respond can help ensure that a person will be able to protect their rights and their career. In 2026, people should be prepared to address sexual harassment correctly, whether they have experienced it directly or have witnessed it in the workplace.

One particularly damaging form of workplace harassment is quid pro quo sexual harassment. This type of harassment occurs when someone in a position of power uses that authority to demand sexual favors. Quid pro quo harassment is considered to be illegal sex discrimination, and workers who experience it have legal options that will allow them to hold their employers accountable and address the harm they have suffered due to this form of harassment. An experienced attorney can provide guidance and representation in these cases, helping to protect the rights of sexual harassment victims.

How Common Is Workplace Sexual Harassment?

Recent statistics paint a troubling picture of sexual harassment in American workplaces. Studies have shown that around 54% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment while at work. Around 75% of women who reported sexual harassment stated that the harassment came from someone in a more senior position, demonstrating the prevalence of quid pro quo harassment. Sadly, around 58% of people who experience sexual harassment at work do not report it.

How Does Maryland Law Define Sexual Harassment?

In Maryland, sexual harassment is considered to be a form of unlawful sex discrimination. Under Maryland Code, Health-General §10–705, sexual harassment may include requests for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances, or bullying, intimidation, or coercion of a sexual nature. It also includes any other physical or verbal conduct that leads to a work environment that is offensive or hostile. This law applies to all employers in Maryland, including private employers, state and local government agencies, and other public entities.

What Is Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment?

Quid pro quo is a Latin term that is used to describe situations where someone does something in exchange for receiving a benefit from someone else. In a workplace, quid pro quo sexual harassment may occur when a supervisor or another person in a position of authority offers job benefits in exchange for sexual favors or threatens a person with employment consequences if they refuse sexual advances. This form of harassment will typically be committed by someone who has the power to affect employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, promotions, raises, job assignments, or performance evaluations.

Someone in a position of power may use their authority to coerce or pressure an employee into providing sexual favors, either by offering them benefits or by threatening to penalize them. This coercion may be explicit, with the supervisor stating that they will reward or penalize someone, or it may be implicit, with a manager making comments or engaging in nonverbal behavior implying that an employee must go along with their demands.

Examples of quid pro quo sexual harassment include a supervisor telling an employee that a promotion depends on agreeing to a date or sexual relationship, a manager threatening to fire an employee who refuses their sexual advances, a supervisor stating that a person will receive a favorable performance review if they accept unwanted physical contact, offering a raise or better job assignments in exchange for sexual favors, or threatening demotions or undesirable assignments if an employee does not comply with sexual requests.

How Does Quid Pro Quo Harassment Affect Workers?

The effects of quid pro quo sexual harassment can extend far beyond a single incident. A victim may experience issues that could affect their career, mental health, and financial stability. Workers who experience this form of harassment may be placed in a situation where their livelihood depends on submitting to unwanted sexual conduct or risking serious employment consequences.

Victims of sexual harassment often experience significant psychological harm. Harassment can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, stress, and anxiety. Physical problems such as headaches, sleep problems, gastric issues, and weight changes are also common among harassment victims.

The career consequences of sexual harassment can be severe, regardless of how the victim responds. If the victim refuses sexual advances, they may face negative consequences such as termination, demotion, poor performance reviews, loss of desirable assignments, or being passed over for promotions. If the victim submits to harassment to preserve their job, they may suffer trauma, and they could still face negative treatment afterward.

Many victims fear retaliation if they report sexual harassment. A person may worry about being labeled a troublemaker, and they could face increased hostility at work. In some cases, workers may be terminated for reporting sexual harassment or participating in a sexual harassment investigation.

What Options Do Workers Have When Addressing Quid Pro Quo Harassment?

Workers who experience quid pro quo sexual harassment have several options for addressing the situation and protecting their rights. The first step is typically to document everything. It is important to save text messages, emails, letters, or notes that may serve as evidence of harassment. Writing down details of incidents, including dates, times, locations, what was said or done, and any witnesses present, can also be beneficial.

Many employers have internal complaint procedures, and workers can follow their workplace's harassment policy to report incidents. They may notify human resources or a supervisor. However, if the harasser is a direct supervisor, reporting sexual harassment may be difficult. In some cases, reports can be made to someone higher in the chain of command or directly to HR. It is important to keep records of all complaints.

If a situation is not resolved after making a complaint within a company, or if a person does not feel safe reporting sexual harassment to their company, a formal complaint may be filed with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. These agencies investigate harassment claims, and they can take action against employers.

An attorney can provide guidance throughout each step of this process. They can help a victim understand how to document sexual harassment and gather evidence, and they can help file complaints with the appropriate agencies. They can also make sure a person will be protected against retaliation, negotiate with an employer to resolve concerns related to harassment, and provide representation in litigation if necessary. Having legal representation early in the process can help ensure that a person’s rights will be protected throughout their case.

Contact Our Rockville Sexual Harassment Attorney

Quid pro quo sexual harassment is illegal, and you do not have to accept it while you are working. If someone in authority over your job is demanding sexual favors in exchange for employment benefits or threatening your job if you refuse their sexual advances, you will need to understand your rights and your legal options. At Freedman Law, LLC, our Montgomery County sexual harassment lawyer can help you determine the best path forward. Contact us at 410-290-6232 to set up a consultation and get more information about how you can hold your employer accountable for allowing quid pro quo sexual harassment in the workplace.