Workplace harassment is often underreported, yet it can have a serious effect on a person’s wellbeing, confidence and ability to work safely.
There are many forms of workplace harassment, and anyone can be a victim. Understanding and identifying workplace harassment is the first step in resolving it. Workplace harassment may include physical, verbal, sexual and emotional harassment, relating to an unwelcome conduct by an employee that causes harm, oftence, humiliation and degradation; often in a hostile, intimidating or abusive work environment. •
While harassment often involves a pattern of behaviour, in some circumstances, a single incident may be severe enough to constitute harassment. The harasser could be the victim’s supervisor, a co-worker or a non-employee.
All types of workplace harassment, including bullying are illegal, so it is never okay to remain silent if you are going through this. Harassment not only affects an employee’s productivity, comfort and safety at work, but they can also expose an organization to legal liability. Workplace harassment is a serious issue, hence if you witness or experience harassment in the workplace, it is your obligation to report it. Some victims are extremely concerned about retaliation, including job loss, should they report the harassment. However, there may also be others who have already reported previous similar oftenses by the same person or group of persons, then it is even more important to call HR’s attention to it. It is important to note that employees are protected by workplace harassment laws. Not only are you protected by law from the person harassing you, but you are also protected from your employer failing to protect you.
There are several recognized types of workplace harassment, including:
Verbal harassment which may consist of demeaning remarks, oftensive gestures and unreasonable criticism. It can involve insults, slurs, unwanted jokes and hurtful comments.
Psychological harassment is similar to verbal harassment, but it is more covert and consists of exclusionary tactics, like withholding information or gaslighting, to mentally break down the victim, reduce their self-esteem and undermine them.
Cyber-bullying is the newest form of harassment and consists of posting threats or demeaning comments on social media, creating a fake persona to bully someone online, creating a webpage about the victim to mock and belittle them, and making false allegations online.
Physical harassment can include simple unwanted gestures, like touching an employee’s clothing, hair, face or skin, and more severe gestures, like physical assault, threats of violence and damage to personal property.
Sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual advances, such as inappropriate touching, sexual jokes, sharing pornography, sending sexual messages or requiring sexual favors in exchange for a promotion or job security.
Workplace harassment is a serious issue, thus it is an obligation to report it. Many victims may be extremely concerned about the harrasser’s retaliation, including job loss, should they report harassment. Having said this, such process will become easier once it unfolds as there may also be other employees who have already reported previous similar offenses by the same harassers.
In any case, keeping yourself safe is the top priority, so it is important to go through appropriate formal channels to file complaints and escalating the issue to senior management, whilst ensuring that everything is documented in the process of explaining why you feel you are being harassed. Ideally, if available, provide evidence such as screenshots, texts, emails and eyewitness accounts to support your alleged claims.
Workplace harassment is always hard to deal with, and it can be especially tricky to navigate around if the person who is harassing you is also your senior. Hence, it is also ideal to hire a lawyer outside of your working organization to assist in protecting your rights and fight injustice.
It is also important to highlight that all employees are protected by workplace harassment laws. Not only all employees are protected by law from the person harassing them, but they are also protected from their employer failing to protect them.
Medical information notice: This article provides general health information and does not replace an individual medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.