What is considered employee harassment?
“Employee harassment” is a term used to describe unwanted conduct by one worker to another. All offensive conduct is not considered harassment unless it meets certain criteria. Federal anti-discrimination laws define the elements that must be present in order for conduct to be considered unlawful harassment.Protected StatusHarassment of an employee is unlawful if it is based upon a person’s membership in a protected group, such as race, age, sex, disability, national origin and religion.Offensive ConductHarassing conduct can be verbal and physical. Verbal harassment includes comments and sounds (whistling, jokes), while physical harassment may include imitating or mocking an employee’s physical characteristics.Severe and PervasiveThe offensive conduct is only harassing if it is severe and pervasive. Meaning that the harassment must be continuous over a period of time, and the victim can’t seem to get away from the harassment. It does not refer to a one time or isolated incident.Hostile
