Teresa Harris worked as a manager at Forklift Systems Incorporated (Forklift), an equipment rental company, for two and one- half years. Charles Hardy was Forklift’s president. Throughout Harris’s time at Forklift, Hardy often insulted her because of her sex and made her the target of unwanted sexual innuendos. Hardy told Harris on several occasions, in the presence of other employees, “You’re a woman, what do you know?” and “We need a man as the rental manager;” at least once, he told her she was “ a dumb ass woman.” Again in front of others, he suggested that the two of them “go to the Holiday Inn to negotiate Harris’s raise.” He made sexual innuendos about Harris’s and other women’s clothing.
Six weeks before Harris quit her job, Harris complained to Hardy about his conduct. Hardy said he was surprised that Harris was offended, claimed he was only joking, and apologized. He also promised he would stop, and based on this assurance, Harris stayed on the job. But two weeks later, Hardy began anew. While Harris was arranging a deal with one of Forklift’s customers, he asked her, again in front of other employees, “What did you do, promise the guy some sex Saturday night?” One month later, Harris collected her paycheck and quit. Harris then sued Forklift, claiming that Hardy’s conduct was sexual harassment that created a hostile work environment for her because of her gender. Who wins? Harris v. Forklift Systems Incorporated, 510 U. S. 17, 114 S. Ct. 367, 1993 U. S. Lexis 7155 (Supreme Court of the United States)