Recently, workplace harassment matters have gained interest among practitioners and researchers as it is becoming one of the most sensitive areas of effective workplace management. In the last ten years, workplace harassment has attracted lots of attention from researchers and governments, especially in the United Kingdom, because the significant source of workplace harassment associated with aggressive behavior at the workplace, which is almost unseen, are psycho-social hazards causing the deterioration of physical and emotional health. The issue caused by workplace harassment is a subject to know, learn to prevent as an employee or employer. Workplace harassment affects the victim in harmful ways by hindering victims from successful advancement in their careers, limiting the victim’s capabilities.
What exactly is workplace harassment?
Workplace harassment, known by many other names such as workplace bullying, workplace maltreatment, workplace aggression, and workplace abuse, are synonymous or belong to
the category of workplace harassment. They all either mean belittling or threatening behavior directed repeatedly at a worker or group of workers. These acts include different discrimination types and an act of violation that portrays health and security risk, an assault that systematically disadvantaged an employee. Workplace harassment may also consist
of offensive conduct based on one or more of the protected groups above that is so severe or pervasive that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment resulting in an adverse employment decision (such as being fired or demoted).
The wide range in types of workplace harassment can be loosely categorized into emotional and physical abuse. These forms of workplace harassment target various groups like racial minorities, immigrants but the most affected groups are women in those categories.
Common workplace harassment for women is sexual harassment, this is a prominent form
of workplace harassment, but it is more than just sexual harassment in recent times.
Women are constantly being harassed in society. This post focuses on what we need as women regardless of race, sexuality, or any other defining characteristic. Every woman should be given the right to be free from abusive treatment in the workplace. With freedom from abuse given as the basics of human rights, any form of discomfort or discrimination should be labeled as active harassment.
How to respond to workplace harassment?
Dedicated to every woman, there are ways you can respond to workplace harassment, whether sexual harassment or any other type of harassment.
Address the person in question of harassment in a one-one situation.
Avoiding or ignoring addressing the person should never be an option. If someone does what you don’t like, you should definitely let the person know you don’t like that behavior and wouldn’t want it to occur again politely. You might be surprise many are not intentional about it, and once you let them know you don’t like, there is 50% chance it won’t happen again. Don’t respond to workplace harassment that comes in form of written text messages with your written form of communication.
You might need to respond verbally or report to your HR department because you certainly do not want to have a written record at anything that will negatively position you.
Just screenshot or save the message but certainly don’t respond to it in a text or another email.
In summary, having the fast instinct to ask the person to stop the irritating behavior on the spot is the best way to react to workplace harassment. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy, and you may need to take the next step. First, take notes of the slightest occurrence as you will need to be able to describe your allegations if necessary: date and time, exchanged expressions, words, and attitude, etc. When you have witnesses, please take note of them, and seek support. React immediately, as there is no hope of fixing the problem right inside your head. The longer you wait, the more likely it is to fester, make your work life miserable and cause other problems. Many people are driven to the point of resignation or depression, so don’t wait to get there.
Employers should take the following measures to prevent workplace harassment for transparency and effective work environment
· Create a written policy against workplace harassment.
· Communicate anti- harassment policy to all employees.
· Train and inform employees on the policy.
No employer or employee wants to be sued for workplace harassment, either sexual harassment or non-sexual harassment. The violation should come with massive punishment.
Much Love
Kim x
