What are the six forms of harassment?

Asked by: Dr. Roman Parisian DDS  |  Last update: March 28, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (3 votes)

While there isn't one official list of exactly six forms, harassment generally falls into categories like Discriminatory, Sexual, Verbal, Physical, Psychological (Bullying), and Cyber/Online, involving unwelcome conduct based on protected traits or creating a hostile environment, through actions like slurs, threats, unwanted touching, intimidation, or exclusion.

What are six forms of harassment?

Employers should be on the lookout for all forms of harassment, including:

  • Intimidation. Overly authoritative behavior, excessive micromanagement, shouting, swearing, threatening conduct or humiliating treatment.
  • Ridicule. ...
  • Sexual Harassment. ...
  • Assault. ...
  • Bullying. ...
  • Discriminatory Actions.

What are the 7 types of harassment?

7 Types of Workplace Harassment and Effective Prevention Measures

  • Discriminatory harassment: ...
  • Personal harassment: ...
  • Power harassment: ...
  • Cyberbullying: ...
  • Retaliation harassment: ...
  • Sexual harassment: ...
  • Verbal harassment:

What are the 9 grounds of harassment?

Harassment that is based on the following grounds— marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age disability, race, or Traveller community ground— is a form of discrimination in relation to conditions of employment. What is sexual harassment? S23 EE Act.

What are the various types of harassment?

We believe that there are actually more than six forms of harassment. Here are the eleven forms mentioned above: discriminatory, personal, physical, power, psychological, online/digital, retaliation, sexual, quid pro quo, third-party, and verbal.

Sexual Harassment Training: 5 Four Forms of Sexual Harassment & Their Consequences

19 related questions found

What are the five types of harassment?

The Main Types of Sexual Harassment

  • Quid Pro Quo Harassment. ...
  • Hostile Work Environment. ...
  • Verbal Harassment. ...
  • Non-Verbal Harassment. ...
  • Physical Harassment.

What are the 5 ds of harassment?

The 5Ds are different methods – Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct – that you can use to support someone who's being harassed, emphasize that harassment is not okay, and demonstrate to people in your life that they have the power to make their community safer.

What is proof of harassment?

The most valuable type of evidence in a criminal harassment case is direct witness testimony. Email, social media, and other messages are admissible as evidence in court. Witnesses will describe what occurred and how it made them feel.

What actions fall under harassment?

Examples of Harassment

  • Verbal or physical abuse, threats, derogatory remarks, jokes, innuendo or taunts about appearance or beliefs.
  • The display of pornographic, racist or offensive images.
  • Practical jokes that result in awkwardness or embarrassment.
  • Unwelcome invitations or requests, either indirect or explicit.

What do you have to prove for harassment?

To prove harassment, you need a combination of your detailed personal testimony (dates, times, details) and corroborating evidence like emails, texts, photos, videos, or witness statements describing the unwelcome conduct, especially when it's severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile environment, impacting your work or safety, with saved records of your reports to management/HR being crucial. Medical records documenting harm and documentation of any official complaints and the employer's response also significantly strengthen your case. 

What is the most common harassment?

1. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. From unwelcome and offensive comments to unwanted physical advances and requests for sexual favors, sexual harassment is one of the most common and familiar forms of workplace harassment. Sexual harassment can be verbal or physical, both of which are discriminatory.

What are HR trigger words?

HR trigger words are terms that alert Human Resources to potential policy violations, serious workplace issues like harassment, discrimination, bullying, retaliation, or a hostile work environment, and significant risks like lawsuits, high turnover, or burnout, prompting investigation or intervention, while other buzzwords like "quiet quitting" signal cultural trends. Using them signals a serious concern requiring HR's immediate attention for compliance and employee safety, though overly negative or absolute language can also be flagged. 

What words are considered harassment?

Insults & Name-Calling – Personal attacks on your appearance, intelligence, or abilities. Threats & Intimidations – Statements that make you fear for your safety or well-being. Slurs & Discriminatory Language – Speech targeting your race, gender, religion, or other constitutionally protected characteristics.

What things count as harassment?

Harassment is unwelcome behavior that is offensive, humiliating, or intimidating, often persistent, and targets a person's protected characteristics like race, gender, religion, or disability, creating a hostile environment, though serious single incidents can also qualify. It includes verbal abuse, offensive jokes, unwanted physical contact, intimidation, displaying offensive images, and online harassment, and can lead to psychological distress, impacting someone's ability to work or live comfortably.
 

What are not examples of harassment?

Behaviours that are not considered harassment are those that arise from a relationship of mutual consent. A hug between friends, mutual flirtation, and a compliment on physical appearance between colleagues are not considered harassment.

What are four causes of harassment?

  • Discriminatory Harassment.
  • Harassment Based on Religion.
  • Power Harassment.
  • Psychological Harassment.
  • Sexual Harassment.

What makes a behavior qualify as harassment?

Deciding if behavior is harassment involves assessing if it's unwelcome conduct related to a protected characteristic (like race, sex, age, religion) that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or abusive environment, or makes enduring it a condition of employment, often requiring more than petty slights or isolated incidents, though extreme single acts can qualify. Key factors include whether the conduct is offensive, humiliating, or degrades the person, impacts their work, and would be seen as unreasonable by a reasonable person. 

What are the 9 protected categories of harassment?

Protected Classes

  • Race.
  • Color.
  • Religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices)
  • Sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/ or related medical conditions)
  • Gender identity, gender expression.
  • Sexual orientation.
  • Marital status.

What are the signs of harassment?

Signs You May Have Experienced Workplace Harassment

  • Feelings of discomfort. Sexual harassment can be subjective and might be measured in feelings of discomfort. ...
  • Unwelcome physical contact. ...
  • Differential treatment. ...
  • “No” not accepted. ...
  • Requests for sexual favors. ...
  • Bullying. ...
  • Sexual jokes or displays of sexual images. ...
  • Several victims.

What makes a strong harassment case?

Harassment becomes unlawful where 1) enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment, or 2) the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.

What is the average payout for harassment?

Settlements Vs.

While the average settlement is under $37,000, another study found that when harassment lawsuits go to trial, the average payout increases to $217,000. This considerable difference is partly because cases that are deemed severe are more likely to require a court trial to prove.

Can you call the police for harassment?

If you need assistance, please contact your local police by calling 911, your state police or the federal government. If you are experiencing harassment from a family member, please contact a family law attorney that handles protection from abuse orders.

What are three actions that are considered harassment?

The three primary types of harassment often categorized are Verbal/Written, Physical, and Visual, which create hostile environments through offensive language, unwanted touching/assault, or inappropriate images/gestures, respectively, though harassment also includes discriminatory and sexual forms that overlap these categories. These behaviors, whether explicit or subtle, target individuals based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or religion, making a workplace intimidating, hostile, or offensive.
 

What are the points to prove for harassment?

In order for a person to be found guilty of the offence of harassment under section 2, the Prosecution would need to prove the following: That the defendant pursued a course of conduct against another; This conduct amounted to harassment; and. The defendant ought to have known that this conduct amounted to harassment.

What is petty harassment?

A person commits a petty misdemeanor if, with purpose to harass another, he or she: (a) Makes a telephone call without purpose or legitimate communication; or. (b) Insults, taunts or challenges another in a manner likely to provoke violent or disorderly response; or.