Quid pro quo
Definition
1) In general
Latin for "something for something." An exchange of acts or things of approximately equal value.
2) In employment law
Sexual harassment in which a boss conveys to an employee that he or she will base an employment decision, e.g. whether to hire, promote, or fire that employee, on the employee's satisfaction of a sexual demand. For example, it is quid pro quo sexual harassment for a boss to offer a raise in exchange for sex.
Illustrative caselaw
See, e.g. Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm'n, 130 S.Ct. 876 (2009) (generally) and Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998) (regarding quid pro quo sexual harassment).
See also
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
(kwid pro kwoh) Latin for "this for that." A quid pro quo is what each person in a deal expects to get from the other. In employment law, quid pro quo sometimes refers to a type of sexual harassment in which workplace rewards are explicitly linked to the victim's willingness to submit to unwanted sexual advances. ("If you agree to go out with me, you'll be first in line for promotion.")
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.
August 19, 2010, 5:22 pm
