Workplace harassment is one of those issues that should have been solved by now. No matter how progressive our societies get, there seems to be a steady correlation between workplaces and harassment. Today we’ll talk about some of the most common forms of harassment at work, how to address it, and most importantly – how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Sexual Harassment
We can’t talk about workplace harassment without mentioning sexual harassment first. It’s one of the primary forms of harassment that is happening all over the country as we speak. Over time, this issue went from being taboo to becoming a trigger for serious change.
Sexual harassment comes in all shapes and forms. It’s a common misconception that only women are victims of sexual harassment at work. Men are also having to deal with this problem. That being said, this issue is a serious one. Different organizations have their own definitions of what constitutes sexual harassment, but in most cases, it’s a serious offense that often triggers a broad investigation.
This form of harassment is best dealt with head-on by opening a line of communication with the offender, as well as the HR department. Do not let sexual harassment go unanswered.
Harassment Related to Sexual Orientation
Modern workplaces and organizations are much more open to the LGBTQ community than just two decades ago. That being said, there is still a lot of discrimination happening based on one’s sexual orientation. Discrimination and harassment of this type aren’t always overt.
In fact, in a massive number of cases, it is thinly veiled as something completely benign. Or at least that’s what it comes across the first time it happens. Fortunately, this type of targeted harassment is punished harshly in just about any serious organization out there.
As far as prevention goes, there are several things employers can do. The best thing to do is to raise awareness about the LGBTQ population by mandating a training course. Although it might sound like a band-aid solution, a well-structured training course can greatly boost awareness of LGBTQ issues, thus leading to a reduction in discrimination towards this group.
Harassment Through Religious Discrimination
Religions play a major role in many peoples’ lives. That being said, religion is still one of the largest points of friction between people all around the world. Harassment based on religion can occur between individuals who practice different religions, but also between atheists and theists. Where casual conversation ends and discrimination starts is often a blurred line in this particular case.
Most religious discrimination is subtle and comes in the form of offhand comments regarding one’s religious beliefs. No matter how small or large, this type of harassment leads to a hostile environment, which can snowball into a massive issue for the organization.
One of the more effective ways of dealing with this particular type of harassment is to set hard boundaries and ensure that everyone abides by the rules. No one should feel discriminated against at their place of work for any reason, including the religion they practice.
Racism and Xenophobia
Racism has been an ever-present issue in all aspects of life, including work. Fighting racism is an ongoing effort that has shown progress in recent decades. Experiencing racism in a work setting may not be as common as it once was, but it is still very much an issue.
Harassment based on race can be extremely subtle. Exclusion from group activities, inappropriate comments about specific facial features, or comments regarding one’s ‘curly hair’ can all be rooted in racism.
Confronting this type of behavior is imperative. Parties responsible for harassment need to be recognized and addressed through appropriate channels. In some cases racism or xenophobia is accidental. However, that is no excuse for prolonged harassment.
Personal Harassment (Bullying)
Workplace harassment doesn’t always have to stem from racial, religious, or similar differences. There are more than enough cases of personal, targeted harassment that can only be described as bullying.
Bullying in a working environment is indicative of a much larger issue at hand. If you’re suffering personal attacks from another employee, make sure to let your superiors know right away. Any organization with even a semblance of integrity will quickly resolve this issue. If not, be prepared to escalate your efforts to a higher level of authority.
Standing up to workplace harassment and discrimination is the best way to draw attention to the issue. Most organizations will do everything they can to solve such problems, but it all starts with one person standing their ground against injustice.
