15 Types of Workplace Harassment (and How to Stop Them in 2020)

There are many types of workplace harassment, and even the most diligent professionals can easily miss the signs. With a thorough understanding of the 15 most common types of workplace harassment, you’ll be better equipped to identify them, file a complaint, stop perpetrators, and help other victims deal with their experiences.

1. Sexual Harassment

If someone approaches you in a sexual way that makes you feel uncomfortable, or they rub themselves against you, it is workplace harassment. If someone shares obscene photos makes sexual comments, please report it. Touching and grabbing without your consent is sexual harassment and must not be taken lightly.

2. Intimidation

Abuse of power is a typical scenario in most workplace harassment cases. There will always be someone bossing you around just because they have authority over you. If you feel someone is making you do irrational things that were not in your job description, don’t do it. First, tell them politely, but if that doesn’t change their behavior, report them.

3. Physical Assault

Physical assault is a more obvious type of workplace harassment, but it isn’t uncommon. Workplace rivalry can push so far that sometimes people get violent, hit each other and create a nasty scene in the office. If employees can take control of their anger, they can try to come up with a solution before the problem becomes physical.

4. Verbal Abuse

Sometimes, people don’t know how to hold their tongue from saying dirty things to each other.

If your co-worker or your boss says mean things in front of people, it is harassment. Feedbacks or disputes should be settled in private with the presence of HR.

5. Cyber Harassment

If you add your coworkers to your personal social media account, you may be inviting cyber harassment. Employees from your workplace may share embarrassing videos or pictures of you publicly on social media. Regardless of how harmless it might seem at first, spreading rumors online might affect your reputation and employability in the future.

6. Bigotry

Sexual and gender biases are common types of workplace harassment that workers often deal with. This form of harassment may include jokes or insults, misconduct, or undervaluing of ideas. Refusing to assign leadership roles to women is also considered bigotry.

7. Third-Party Harassment

Sometimes the problem is not internal, but external. While working, you might develop relationships with clients, customers, and other professionals. But if they approach you inappropriately, it is harassment. Always inform your boss or the person in charge of such issues.

8. Psychological Harassment

If you’ve ever hated your boss for never appreciating your efforts or hard work, it could qualify as a type of psychological harassment. As a result, this behavior can drain your motivation to work and make you feel like you’re not good enough. Don’t let someone’s misconduct destroy your peace of mind.

9. Coercion

Coercion involves requesting favors from your co-workers against their better judgment. For example, your boss or colleague may threaten your life, job or honor for their benefit. Step away and contact proper authorities. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

10. Racial Discrimination

Racial discrimination occurs in situations where someone is treated differently because they belong to a different race, or because they look different. This usually occurs when the race of the victim is a minority in the workplace compared. Racial harassment takes the form of racial slurs, racial jokes about the victim’s looks, accents, customs, beliefs or ancestry, racial insults, racial intolerance, disgust and degrading or stereotypical comments.

11. Religious Discrimination

Religious discrimination and workplace harassment specifically involve showing discriminatory behavior towards someone because of his or her religious beliefs. This usually occurs in environments where the victim has a different religion from the majority of other employees. Religious harassment takes the form of cruel jokes about one’s religion, pressures to convert from one’s religion, and degrading comments about one’s religion.

It also involves intolerance towards the victim’s religious holidays, customs and traditions. Situations, where the employer refuses to accommodate dress codes or prayer observance schedules dictated by the employee’s religion, is also considered religious harassment.

12. Disability Discrimination

This type of workplace harassment is usually shown towards people suffering from a disability, as well as to people who are acquainted with a disabled person or those who take advantage of disability benefits. Disability harassment may take the form of segregating the victim, failure to accommodate their disability or lack of disability awareness. Failure to give opportunities to someone because of their disability is also a form of disability harassment.

13. Sexual Orientation Harassment

As different sexual orientations are gaining acceptance in society and more people opening up about their sexual orientations, this type of harassment is becoming more prevalent. Sexual orientation harassment is directed to members of the LGBTQ community (Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and queer people). Sexual orientation harassment takes the form of offensive comments and jokes about a person’s sexual orientation, or even directing physically threatening actions to a person because of their sexual orientation.

14. Citizenship Harassment

This is a type of workplace harassment where the victim is harassed because of their citizenship status or because of their nation of origin. Citizenship harassment might take the form of name-calling and stereotyping, making derogatory comments about a person’s nationality, or unequal treatment when it comes to getting hired, job assignments, or work benefits.

15. Age-Based Harassment

Age-based harassment involves situations where an employee is treated in a discriminatory manner because they are within a certain age bracket. This kind of harassment is usually common to workers who are above 40 years, or to workers who are too young. This type of harassment might take the form of stereotyping the victim, directing insults towards them, criticizing them unfairly or even leaving them out of important workplace activities.