Many people may believe that sexual harassment is the one and only type of harassment that can take place in the workplace. In reality, sexual harassment is perhaps one of the most common forms of harassing behavior in the workplace, but it is by far not the only one. In fact, many states and local governments have very specific anti-discrimination laws that also contain provisions that prohibit harassment for what are sometimes very unique classes of individuals. The following is a primer on some other types of harassment that may occur in the workplace or elsewhere, which sometimes are not addressed in traditional workshops. Harassment prohibits speech or action which is severe or pervasive enough to create a “hostile or abusive work environment.
Here are some common ways harassment is categorized:
- Gender Identification
- Race
- Religion
- Sex
- National Origin
- Age
- Disability
- Sexual Orientation
- Status as a Veteran
