‘Unwelcome hugs’ may create a hostile work environment, court says

‘The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a case from 2012 that alleges too many unwanted hugs can create a hostile work environment and constitute sexual harassment.
On Thursday, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reopened a sexual harassment lawsuit against Yolo County, California and county Sheriff Edward Prieto.
The suit claims that Prieto created a sexually hostile work environment by greeting claimant Victoria Zetwick with “unwelcome hugs” over 100 times during the 12-year period she worked.
Zetwick, the correctional officer who sued the sheriff, also based her Title VII sexually hostile work environment claim on the fact that she saw Prieto hug and kiss many other female employees, but did not see him hug any male employees.’
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