What are the two main types of harassment recognized by law?

Asked by: Ms. Isabel Abshire  |  Last update: July 9, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (7 votes)

The two main types of harassment recognized by law, particularly in employment settings (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act), are quid pro quo and hostile work environment. These categories define how unwelcome conduct—based on race, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics—creates illegal, abusive situations.

What are the two primary types of harassment?

The two main legal types of workplace harassment are quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro quo involves a supervisor offering job benefits in exchange for sexual favors, while a hostile environment occurs when unwelcome, severe conduct based on a protected characteristic (like race, sex, or religion) interferes with work performance.

What are the different types of harassment by law?

Types of Harassment in California

  • Civil Harassment. ...
  • Criminal Harassment. ...
  • Workplace Harassment. ...
  • Sexual Harassment. ...
  • Cyber Harassment. ...
  • Stalking as a Form of Harassment. ...
  • Harassment Involving Domestic Relationships. ...
  • Stalking – Penal Code 646.9.

What are three examples of harassment?

Harassment is unwelcome, offensive conduct based on protected characteristics (race, sex, religion, etc.) that creates a hostile environment. Examples include:

What are the different types of harassment cases?

Harassment takes many forms beyond the obvious: It can be more than just sexual harassment — including discriminatory, verbal, psychological, physical, online/cyber harassment, hostile work environment behavior and more — all of which create an unwelcome or unsafe workplace.

Types of Workplace Harassment

24 related questions found

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 three main types of harassment according to the Protection from harassment Act?

This chapter explains what types of behaviour amount to harassment under the Act. These include harassment related to a relevant protected characteristic, sexual harassment, and less favourable treatment for rejecting or submitting to harassment.

What behaviors are considered harassment?

Harassing behavior is any unwelcome, uninvited, and persistent conduct that demeans, intimidates, alarms, or causes substantial emotional distress to another person. It typically involves a pattern of behavior, though serious one-time incidents can also qualify.

What is proof of harassment?

No matter where you live, you can save any voicemails or emails in which harassment occurs. Take pictures of any drawings or writing that is offensive and gather any items that have been used to humiliate or otherwise harass you.

What is an example of harassment?

Since you didn't provide specific options to choose from, I've listed the most common examples of harassment according to legal and workplace standards. If you have a specific list, feel free to share it for a more direct answer! 

What are the 11 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.

What are the three laws that prohibit harassment?

Harassment is a form of employment discrimination that violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (ADA).

What are some forms harassment can take?

The Top Five Most Common Forms of Workplace Harassment in California

  • Racial Harassment. ...
  • Religious Harassment. ...
  • Sexual Harassment. ...
  • Age-Based Harassment. ...
  • Disability Harassment.

What is section 2 harassment?

Under the 1997 Act there are two key offences: Section 2: deals with conduct that amounts to harassment of another. Section 4: covers situations where the victims fears that violence would be used against them.

What is secondary harassment?

Secondhand harassment (or secondary harassment) is a form of workplace harassment where an employee experiences a hostile work environment by witnessing, hearing about, or being affected by inappropriate conduct directed at others. It is not necessary to be the direct target of harassment to file a claim; learning about derogatory comments, offensive materials, or bullying—such as circulating inappropriate photos—can still constitute a legal claim, particularly when it creates a pervasive, hostile environment.

What are the three elements of harassment?

(3) “Harassment” is unlawful violence, a credible threat of violence, or a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and that serves no legitimate purpose.

How to prove that someone is harassing you?

Audio or video recordings and photographs can also be used to provide evidence in a harassment case. Forensic evidence, such as emails and text messages, can be used if available. Lastly, medical records or reports can help to corroborate any physical injuries the victim may have sustained due to the harassment.

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?

Workplace discrimination may be based on any one or more of the following 9 grounds: Gender, Civil Status, Family Status, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Age, Disability, Race, Membership of the Traveller Community.

What are four examples of conduct that may constitute harassment?

Harassment generally falls into four main categories based on the nature of the behavior: physical, verbal, psychological, and cyberbullying. These types involve unwelcome, severe, or pervasive conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or abusive environment.

What behaviors are not considered harassment?

Not harassment includes fair management actions, respectful disagreements, and isolated, non-severe incidents. Examples include giving negative performance reviews, setting demanding goals, enforcing dress codes, providing constructive feedback, and polite, welcome social interactions. It must be objectively "severe or pervasive" to be legally classified as harassment.

Which behaviors are signs of harassment?

Behaviors indicating someone may be experiencing harassment often involve noticeable changes in their physical demeanor, emotional state, or professional performance. Because harassment can be subtle or overt, recognizing these signs is key to early intervention.

What are the two main types of harassment violations?

The two basic types of unlawful workplace harassment, recognized by the EEOC and courts, are Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Work Environment. These occur when unwelcome conduct based on protected characteristics is so severe or pervasive that it alters the conditions of employment, often resulting in legal liability for employers.

What type of harassment is the most common?

Sexual harassment—specifically in the form of a hostile work environment—and psychological harassment (including bullying, threats, and insults) are widely cited as the most common forms of harassment, particularly in workplace settings. These behaviors involve unwelcome conduct based on sex or power dynamics that interfere with work performance.

What kind of harassment is illegal?

Illegal harassment is unwelcome conduct based on protected characteristics—such as race, sex, religion, national origin, age (40+), disability, or genetic information—that is severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment or results in an adverse employment decision (e.g., firing, demotion). It violates federal laws enforced by the EEOC and similar state laws.