Harassment in the workplace refers to unwelcome conduct based on a person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, older age, disability, or genetic information
. It is a form of unlawful discrimination and violates one or more of the protected categories under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other federal authorities
. Harassment becomes unlawful when:
- Enduring the conduct is required to continue employment
- It creates a work environment that is intimidating, hostile, or abusive
Some examples of workplace harassment include:
- Offensive jokes, objects, or pictures
- Name calling
- Physical assaults and threats
- Intimidation
- Excessive demands that are impossible to meet
- Demeaning demands far below the employee's capability
- Intrusion into the employee's personal life
- Sexual harassment, which includes unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors, and offensive comments about someone's sex
Sexual harassment is unlawful when it is so frequent and severe that it creates a hostile or intimidating work environment, or it results in an adverse employment decision (e.g., demotion, denial of promotion, suspension, or termination)
. Harassment can be committed by anyone, including supervisors, managers, coworkers, or non-employees such as visitors or contractors
. Legitimate and reasonable management actions, such as demotion, discipline, or transfer, are not considered workplace harassment as long as they are conducted in a reasonable manner
. However, simple teasing, off-hand comments, or isolated incidents that are not extremely serious are not considered harassment under federal law
