Sexual harassment isn’t just a workplace issue—it’s an ethical violation with real, lasting harm. Section 1.11 of the NASW Code of Ethics makes the social worker’s responsibility crystal clear: any sexually charged behavior toward clients is unethical, unprofessional, and strictly prohibited.

Here’s the full standard:

1.11 Sexual Harassment
Social workers should not sexually harass clients. Sexual harassment includes sexual advances; sexual solicitation; requests for sexual favors; and other verbal, written, electronic, or physical contact of a sexual nature.

What It Means in Practice

Sexual harassment can be obvious—or subtle.
It can be verbal, physical, or digital. It includes:

  • Suggestive jokes or “flirty” comments

  • Inappropriate compliments on a client’s appearance

  • Touching that has any sexual implication

  • Sharing sexually explicit material, even as a “joke”

  • Sending romantic or sexual messages by email, text, or social media

  • Asking personal, sexual, or intimate questions unrelated to treatment

Intent does not matter. If the behavior is experienced as harassing, exploitative, or inappropriate, it’s a violation—period.

Key Takeaways

  • No sexually suggestive communication—ever.
    This includes emails, DMs, texts, memes, or “jokes.”

  • Social workers are always in a position of power.
    Even if a client initiates flirtation or sexual comments, the ethical responsibility lies fully with the social worker to redirect and maintain boundaries.

  • There are no gray areas.
    The standard doesn’t allow for interpretation. Anything that crosses into sexual or suggestive territory is harassment.

Practice Question

Here's how this section of the code might look in an ASWB exam question:

A social worker comments to a client during session, “You always look great when you wear that dress." The client becomes uncomfortable but does not address it directly. What is the best description of the social worker’s behavior?

A. Acceptable, because the comments were positive and not explicitly sexual

B. Questionable, but not necessarily unethical unless the client objects

C. Unethical, as the social worker crossed professional boundaries with inappropriate personal remarks

D. Unethical only if the client is made uncomfortable

Even if phrased positively or casually, personal compliments that focus on a client’s appearance are generally inappropriate and constitute may be interpreted as a sexualized boundary crossing. The correct answer is C. How to narrow it down: A ignores the context of power and boundary ethics. B shifts responsibility to the client instead of holding the professional accountable. D implies that a behavior isn’t unethical unless it’s interpreted as such, which is inaccurate.

Ready to really get prepared for the ASWB exam? Get started with SWTP's full-length practice tests now.


Take Me There.




May 16, 2025
Categories :
  ethics  
  practice  
Next