There are two types of unlawful sexual harassment.

Quid pro quo --
literally "this for that" -- is harassment where the employer or representative demands sexual favors in return for a promise of some job benefit, or threatens the employee with a job related loss if such favors are not administered. In New York, an employer can be held liable for quid pro quo sexual harassment, even if it happens only once.

Hostile Environment
To be unlawful, hostile environment sexual harassment must be severe or pervasive. It may consist of offensive touching, verbal comments, as well as the display of sexually offensive photographs, drawings or objects. It does not matter if the harasser and the victim are of the same or different genders. The laws against sexual harassment aim to prohibit sexual behavior that is objectively offensive, which alters the conditions of the victim's employment.