Harassment may occur physically, verbally, or non-verbally and it can be intentional or unintentional. It also includes treating someone less favourably because they have submitted or refused to submit to such behaviour in the past.
Harassment is where a person is subject to unwanted conduct that —as an intended or unintended consequence —violates their dignity, in connection with a protected characteristic i.e., age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation as set out in the Equality Act 2010.
It might also involve sexual harassment. Harassment could be carried out by a colleague or by a third party e.g., a visitor, contractor, or a student. Harassment is also defined as behaviour that creates a hostile, humiliating, degrading or offensive environment in relation to a protected characteristic.
Harassment is where a person is subject to unwanted conduct that —as an intended or unintended consequence —violates their dignity, in connection with a protected characteristic i.e., age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation as set out in the Equality Act 2010.
It might also involve sexual harassment. Harassment could be carried out by a colleague or by a third party e.g., a visitor, contractor, or a student. Harassment is also defined as behaviour that creates a hostile, humiliating, degrading or offensive environment in relation to a protected characteristic.
Examples of harassment can include:
- Using racist nicknames
- Being patronised as being ‘too old’ or ‘too young’ to understand something
- Threats to disclose someone’s sexual orientation
- Mimicking the effects of a disability or speech impairment
- Deliberate misgendering
- Attempts to persuade an individual to change their religious or philosophical beliefs
- Treating someone less favourably because they refuse to submit to harassment