Many people think harassment always has to be sexual in nature, but that is not true. There are many types of behavior that could become harassing.
It is important to understand that all harassment is illegal. Every employee has the right to work in an environment where they do not have to face people making them feel uncomfortable. The key is understanding what constitutes harassment.
Types of harassment
Business News Daily explains harassment includes verbal, physical and emotional assaults. Essentially, harassment in the workplace is similar to bullying in elementary school. It could involve someone making jokes at your expense or saying things that make you feel bad. It might be someone telling offensive jokes or mocking you.
Signs of harassment
Sometimes, it is not easy to tell when harassment is happening. You may be inclined to ignore it or not make a big deal out of it because you do not want to bring attention to the situation or rock the boat within your workplace. In addition, there are many gray areas where something may seem harassing, but it does not meet the legal definition.
Consider how it is making you feel. If this is something that is making you feel like you do not want to go to work, then it likely is harassment. Additionally, if it is happening a lot, then it is probably harassment.
Remember the law protects you from harassment. It also protects you against retaliation of any kind for reporting the behavior or situation. You also have the right to report when it happens to other people in your workplace.