Workplace harassment is any unwelcome behavior that creates a hostile or offensive work environment for an individual. It can take many forms, including verbal, physical, or visual actions that are discriminatory or offensive in nature.
Workplace bullying can take on various forms, typically involving repeated malicious behaviors such as deliberate insults, threats, constant criticism, overbearing supervision, demeaning comments, or profane outbursts. It may also manifest as overt exclusion, excessive workloads, or lack of communication with colleagues.
Some examples of protected workplace harassment include:
- Sexual harassment: This can include unwanted sexual advances, comments, or gestures, as well as inappropriate physical contact.
- Racial harassment: This can include slurs or derogatory remarks based on an individual’s race or ethnicity.
- Age harassment: This can include comments or actions that belittle or discriminate against someone based on their age.
- Religious harassment: This can include comments or actions that are discriminatory towards someone based on their religion or beliefs.
- Disability harassment: This can include comments or actions that are discriminatory towards someone based on their disability or perceived disability.
Moreover, subtler forms of bullying may include withholding or supplying incorrect work-related information, sabotaging projects, passive-aggressive behavior, blocking promotions, providing unclear or contradictory instructions, or assigning unnecessary or tedious tasks.
How to report workplace harassment and bullying
It’s important to note that harassment can occur from anyone in the workplace, including managers, supervisors, colleagues, clients, or customers. If you are experiencing harassment at work, it’s important to report it to your employer or human resources department as soon as possible. Your workplace should have a policy in place to handle harassment complaints, and they should take appropriate action to address the situation and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
If you are experiencing workplace harassment or bullying, it is important to take action and report the behavior to your employer or human resources department. Here are some steps you can take to report workplace harassment and bullying:
- Keep a record of the incidents: Make note of the date, time, location, and details of each incident of harassment or bullying that you experience or witness. Keep any relevant emails, messages, or other documentation as evidence.
- Review your company’s harassment policy: Your company should have a policy in place for handling harassment complaints. Review the policy to understand the process for reporting and the options available to you.
- Talk to your supervisor or human resources department: Schedule a meeting with your supervisor or someone in human resources to report the behavior. Be clear and specific about what has happened and how it has affected you.
- Follow up in writing: After your meeting, follow up with an email or letter to summarize what was discussed and what actions were agreed upon.
- Consider external resources: If your employer is not taking appropriate action, or if you do not feel comfortable reporting to your employer, consider reaching out to external resources, such as a lawyer or a government agency, to understand your options.
Resources to fight workplace harassment.
- Workplace Bullying Institute: A nonprofit organization dedicated to combating workplace bullying through education, research, and advocacy. Their website provides information on the impacts of workplace bullying, as well as resources for individuals who are experiencing bullying.
- The Healthy Workplace Campaign: A campaign focused on promoting healthy work environments and preventing workplace bullying. Their website provides information on workplace bullying, as well as resources for individuals who are experiencing bullying.
- SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management): A professional association for HR professionals that provides resources and information on a wide range of HR topics, including workplace bullying. Their website includes articles and resources on recognizing and addressing workplace bullying.
It’s important to remember that reporting workplace harassment and bullying can be difficult, but it is necessary to protect yourself and others from harmful behavior. Your employer has a responsibility to provide a safe and respectful workplace, and reporting harassment and bullying is an important step towards achieving that goal.
“It’s just culture” is not an acceptable excuse for behavior that is harmful or discriminatory. While it’s true that workplace culture can influence behavior and attitudes, it’s important to remember that all employees have a responsibility to maintain a safe and respectful work environment.
If you are experiencing behavior that is harmful or discriminatory, it’s important to speak up and report the behavior to your employer or human resources department. Your workplace should have policies in place to address these types of issues and take appropriate action to ensure that they are not tolerated.
It’s also important for companies to actively promote a culture of respect and inclusion, and to provide training and resources to help employees understand what is and is not acceptable behavior in the workplace. By working together to create a positive work culture, we can help prevent harmful behavior and create a safe and welcoming environment for all employees.
