Define harassment, explain its forms, and illustrate why early recognition matters for safety, trust, and performance.
Understanding Harassment: Types and Examples
Define harassment, explain its forms, and illustrate why early recognition matters for safety, trust, and performance.
Harassment Types and Examples
Harassment refers to unwanted conduct based on protected characteristics or other grounds that create a hostile or uncomfortable work environment. It can be intentional or unintentional, and can occur in person, online, or via messages. A single incident can harm the target and undermine trust in the workplace.
Recognizing the range of manifestations helps prevent escalation and supports a fair, respectful culture.
- Verbal harassment: insults, demeaning comments, or threats.
- Physical harassment: unwanted touching, aggressive gestures, or blocking movement.
- Visual harassment: derogatory images, memes, or displays.
- Retaliation: punishment for reporting concerns or participating in investigations.