Is all workplace harassment illegal?
No, not all workplace harassment is illegal. The laws enforced by EEOC do not prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious. For workplace harassment to be illegal, the conduct must either be severe (meaning very serious) or pervasive (meaning that it occurred frequently). One instance of harassing conduct is generally not sufficient, unless the conduct is very serious, such as a physical assault. If you believe you are being harassed at work, you should report the conduct to your supervisor or another manager, even if it happens only once or does not seem very serious.
