In the modern world, there should be no place for bullying, harassment, or any type of degradation based on nationality, skin color, etc. Unfortunately, this isn’t yet the case. In fact, it is estimated that an amazing 72% of Australians have been sexually harassed. It is clear that there is a long way to go in the fight for equality.
What Is Workplace Harassment?
There are many different forms of harassment but the fundamental characteristics are the same in every case. In essence, you are harassed if someone or a group of people are continuously acting in a negative or derogative manner to you.
In short, if you are consistently being treated differently to those around you without a justifiable reason then you are being subject to harassment. The harassment may be sexual in nature, based on your race or color, or simply because someone doesn’t like you.
In most cases, the harassment is repeated on a daily basis and leaves you feeling uncomfortable, unwilling to work, or afraid for your safety.
What to Do If Your Are Dismissed
If you have lost your job and you feel it was unfair or a result of harassment then you should contact a reputable unfair dismissal employment lawyer as soon as it happens. You have a limited time to make a claim.
Even if you are not sure whether it counts as harassment, you should speak to the lawyer and get their professional opinion. They will want as many facts as possible and, as mentioned, the sooner you do it the better.
Workplace Harassment Examples
There are many different things that can count as workplace harassment, some of the most common examples are:
- Aggressive behavior
- Consistent teasing or practical jokes that you don’t appreciate
- Inappropriate touching
- Bad behavior or pressure for you to behave badly
This is just a few of the examples, it illustrates the wide scope of possibilities that are encompassed by harassment. Those responsible for bullying or harassment of any kind could hold liability in a personal injury claim, so you should think about finding some good personal injury lawyers to be there for you.
The bottom line is that you are being harassed if you constantly feel uncomfortable at work and it is the result of the actions of one or more employees. The person harassing you can be a co-worker, subordinate, or boss.
Dealing with Harassment at Work
If you feel capable then you should tell the person or persons harassing you to stop because you don’t appreciate the way they are behaving. This may be enough to stop the harassment.
However, many people don’t feel comfortable doing this. If this is the case you should speak to your direct boss. Or, if it is them harassing you, speak to their boss or the human resources department.
They should have set procedures to investigate and deal with any harassment claims. If this doesn’t resolve the issue you’ll need to speak to a reputable employment lawyer to take the matter further.
One thing is certain, you should never put up with harassment in the workplace, whether it is happening to you or someone else.
