What behaviors are considered harassment?
Asked by: Prof. Marcelle Harber DDS | Last update: July 4, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (6 votes)
Offensive conduct may include, but is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance.
What are 3 examples that are not 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 some examples of harassment?
Examples of harassment include offensive or derogatory jokes, racial or ethnic slurs, pressure for dates or sexual favors, unwelcome comments about a person's religion or religious garments, or offensive graffiti, cartoons or pictures.
Which behaviors are signs of harassment?
- bullying at school or in the workplace.
- cyber stalking (using the internet to harass someone)
- antisocial behaviour.
- sending abusive text messages.
- sending unwanted gifts.
- unwanted phone calls, letters, emails or visits.
What are the characteristics that qualify a situation as harassment?
Unwelcome conduct, verbal or physical, including intimidation, ridicule, insult, comments, or physical conduct, that is based on an individual's protected status or protected activities under Personnel Bulletin 18-01, when the behavior can reasonably be considered to adversely affect the work environment, or an ...
What counts as harassment and stalking? [Criminal law explainer]
What happens when you file a police report for harassment?
Evidence will be reviewed by whomever is assigned to do so. Further investigation may be necessary. Once the evidence is reviewed, a decision will be made to file charges against the accused or find that there is not enough evidence to pursue charges.
What things count as harassment?
- monitoring someone's internet use, email or other electronic communication.
- cyber flashing.
- getting access to someone's email and social media accounts.
- spamming and sending viruses.
- stealing someone's identity.
- threatening to share private information, photographs, copies of messages.
What behaviors are not considered harassment?
What is Not workplace harassment? Legitimate and reasonable management actions such as actions taken to transfer demote, and discipline an employee provided these actions are conducted in a reasonable way are not considered workplace harassment.
How can you tell someone is harassing you?
- Comments, requests, and demands.
- Commenting on physical appearance, such as someone's body or the clothing they're wearing.
- Continuing to talk to someone after they have asked to be left alone.
- Flashing.
- Following or stalking.
- Groping.
What makes a strong harassment case?
To make a strong case, you must provide evidence that clearly supports your claim of harassment. There are different types of evidence that can help prove your case. Each type of evidence plays a unique role in explaining the events, providing proof of what occurred, and supporting your version of the story.
What are the 5 Ds of harassment?
Hollaback's "5 D's" (Direct, Distract, Delay, Delegate, Document) are different methods that bystanders can use to support someone who is being harassed, emphasize that harassment is not okay, and demonstrate to people in your life that they too have the power to make our communities and workplaces safer.
What not to say in an HR investigation?
“I'm not sure, but…” Speculating or making assumptions can muddle the facts, leading to misunderstandings. Stick to what you know. “It's always been done this way”: This defense can imply resistance to change or justify inappropriate behavior based on tradition, which doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
What is the most common harassment?
Sexual Harassment
It is the most common type of workplace harassment. It is illegal and must be taken seriously. Examples of sexual harassment are sharing sexual photos or posters, inappropriate sexual touching or gestures, passing sexual comments, invading someone's personal space sexually, etc.
What is personal harassment?
When directed at an individual or individuals, the following behaviours are considered to be personal harassment: Abuse of authority. Acts of intimidation or coercion. Bullying. Disparaging remarks about an individual.
What are the 9 protected categories of harassment?
- 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 makes a behavior qualify as harassment?
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.
Which Behaviours are signs of harassment?
- Sexual comments or noises – for example, catcalling or wolf-whistling.
- Sexual gestures.
- Leering, staring or suggestive looks. ...
- Sexual 'jokes'.
- Sexual innuendos or suggestive comments.
- Unwanted sexual advances or flirting.
What are examples of things that are not harassment?
Organizational changes do not constitute harassment, even if they cause you to lose status or affect job satisfaction. The same rule applies to conflict. Many jobs, such as sales, pit worker against worker to obtain performance. You may object to this as obnoxious, but that does not make it illegal.
What is and isn't considered harassment?
By law, harassment is unwelcome behavior based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. An action doesn't have to be illegal in order for it to be harassment. Harassment is any behavior that creates a hostile work environment.
What is intimidating behaviour?
Threatening and intimidating behaviors are words, actions, or implied threats that cause reasonable fear of injury to the health and safety of any person or property. These actions include but are not limited to: threats of physical assaults.
How do you stop someone from harassing you?
- Contact Law Enforcement.
- Send the Harasser a Cease-and-Desist Letter.
- Maintain Records of the Harassing Behavior or Communications.
- Request a Restraining Order.
How to press charges for harassment?
If you're in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, visit your local police or sheriff's department and submit a report in person. Bring evidence of the harassment, such as letters, gifts, photos, or screenshots of texts. Ask for a copy of the written police report, and then follow up with a detective or prosecutor.
Can you report text messages to the police?
Repeated text messages that are affecting your health should be reported. Everyone has different stress and anxiety thresholds, and once harassing texts have elevated you past these, it is time to contact the police.
What happens if you don't report harassment?
If you do not file a workplace harassment claim in time, you could lose your right to pursue compensation against your employer. The statutory limitations are put in place to ensure that claims are brought in a timely manner. Reporting the harassment as early as possible can help ensure that your case is heard.