In the workplace, maintaining a professional demeanor is essential and often differs from how we behave in our personal lives. Unlike interactions with family or friends, professional relationships require a higher degree of formality and respect. Workplace interactions should be conducted with politeness and clear boundaries, as colleagues are neither family members nor casual acquaintances with whom we might speak informally.
Here are some common examples of unprofessional and bad behavior that can be considered workplace harassment if it occurs repeatedly:
1. Unwelcome Advances or Comments
Example: Jenny, a marketing coordinator, is repeatedly subjected to inappropriate comments from Liam, the senior marketing manager. On February 10th, during a team meeting, Liam commented on Jenny’s outfit, saying, “You look like you’re ready for a night out rather than a workday.” Despite Jenny expressing discomfort and asking Liam to stop, he continued making similar remarks. This behavior persisted until March 5th, when Jenny formally reported it to HR.
Why It’s Considered Harassment: Unwelcome advances and comments create a hostile work environment and can be seen as a form of sexual harassment. This behavior disregards personal boundaries and can lead to emotional distress for the victim, making it unprofessional and unacceptable in a workplace setting.
How to Spot and Address It:
- Spotting: Notice if there are repeated instances of inappropriate remarks or advances, especially if the behavior continues despite requests to stop.
- What to Do: Report the behavior to HR or a trusted supervisor. Document the incidents with specific dates and details to provide a clear account of the harassment.
2. Bullying or Intimidation
Example: On March 15th, during a project review meeting, Michael, a team lead, publicly berated Emily, a junior developer, for a mistake she made on a project. Michael’s comments included, “How could you be so incompetent? This is basic stuff.” Emily was left feeling humiliated in front of her peers. Despite Emily’s attempts to address the issue privately, Michael continued to use a condescending tone during subsequent interactions.
Why It’s Considered Harassment: Bullying and intimidation are forms of psychological harassment that can significantly impact an employee’s mental health and work performance. Such behavior is unprofessional as it disregards the well-being of team members and disrupts workplace harmony.
How to Spot and Address It:
- Spotting: Observe patterns of aggressive or demeaning behavior, particularly if it is directed at specific individuals or groups.
- What to Do: Report the issue to HR or a senior manager. Collect evidence of the bullying, such as emails, meeting notes, or witness accounts, to support your report.
3. Exclusion or Isolation
Example: Lisa, a project manager, consistently excluded David, a team member, from critical project meetings starting from April 1st. Despite David’s role being integral to the project, he was not invited to key strategy discussions, leading to his lack of involvement in important decisions. Lisa justified this by saying David’s presence wasn’t needed, although the project directly affected his work.
Why It’s Considered Harassment: Exclusion can be a subtle form of workplace harassment that affects an employee’s ability to perform their job effectively. It undermines their role and can create feelings of isolation and marginalization, which are detrimental to a collaborative work environment.
How to Spot and Address It:
- Spotting: Look for consistent patterns of an employee being left out of relevant discussions or activities without valid reasons.
- What to Do: Speak to the manager or HR about the exclusion. Document instances of exclusion and its impact on the employee’s performance and morale.
4. Inappropriate Use of Power
Example: On April 20th, Emma, a department head, asked her assistant, James, to run personal errands, such as picking up her dry cleaning and arranging personal appointments, under the pretext of “urgent business needs.” James felt obligated to comply to maintain his position and avoid repercussions, even though these tasks were unrelated to his job responsibilities.
Why It’s Considered Harassment: Abusing power for personal gain is a severe form of harassment that compromises the integrity of professional relationships. It is unprofessional as it violates ethical standards and can lead to unfair treatment of employees.
How to Spot and Address It:
- Spotting: Be aware of patterns where a manager or higher-up is making unreasonable demands or leveraging their authority inappropriately.
- What to Do: Report the abuse to HR or higher management. Provide evidence of the inappropriate behavior and any impact it has had on employees.
5. Discriminatory Behavior
Example: On May 10th, during a team meeting, Robert, the senior director, made derogatory remarks about Mira’s ethnicity, saying, “We don’t need someone from your background handling this project.” Mira, who is of Indian descent, felt discriminated against and reported the incident to HR.
Why It’s Considered Harassment: Discriminatory behavior is a clear violation of workplace equality laws and policies. It fosters an environment of intolerance and inequity, affecting the overall workplace atmosphere and employee well-being.
How to Spot and Address It:
- Spotting: Look for consistent patterns of biased or discriminatory remarks or actions towards specific individuals or groups.
- What to Do: Document the discriminatory behavior and report it to HR or a diversity officer. Ensure to provide as much detail as possible to support the investigation.
Conclusion
Recognizing and addressing workplace harassment is essential for maintaining a respectful and professional work environment. By understanding what constitutes harassment and knowing how to report and address it, both individuals and organizations can work towards fostering a safer and more inclusive workplace. If you encounter or witness harassment, take immediate action to report it and seek support from HR or management to ensure that appropriate measures are taken.
