What constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace?

Sexual harassment in the workplace is characterized by unwelcome conduct based on gender. This includes behaviors such as inappropriate touching, suggestive comments, or any actions that create a hostile or intimidating work environment for individuals based on their gender. The key element is that the behavior is not welcome; it is unwanted and creates a form of discrimination that affects the victim's ability to work.

The other choices do not fit the definition of sexual harassment as they either imply consensual interaction or do not involve gender-based conduct. Consensual relationships, for instance, involve mutual agreement between parties and do not constitute harassment unless one party feels coerced or uncomfortable. Similarly, friendly interactions and professional disagreements are often part of normal workplace dynamics and do not inherently involve unwelcome behavior based on gender. Thus, only unwelcome conduct on the basis of gender aligns with the legal and workplace definitions of sexual harassment.