Job Harassment - An Overview

When a person is made to feel uncomfortable by another person, it is known as harassment. Harassment can take place at various places. Job harassment is one that takes place at the workplace or on the way to and from the workplace and is caused by a person who is acquainted with the victim of harassment only because of his job. The person can be a victim, because of looks, age, gender, sexual preference, race, religious or political beliefs, disability, birth place, or even due to hereditary reasons.

The harasser may often feel that being different from the harasser is a possible reason for harassment. A person can also harass another, because he does not get along with the victim. Job harassment is generally done by people who are in authority. A co-worker can also be a harasser if he wants the victim out of his way. A person subordinate in position and one who wants to hold power can also be the harasser. Often in this case women may prove to be easy and weak targets.

Harassment at the workplace can occur anywhere. It can be the washroom, lunchroom, or boss's room. Job harassment can affect the work of the victim. It can also affect the relation between employees, thus affecting the workplace environment. Job harassments can also occur at office parties, during business trips, or even at home. If frivolous phone calls are made or derogatory letters are sent by someone superior at the workplace to an employee, these can also be categorized under job harassment.

An incident may or may not be considered as harassment considering the relationship that exists between the harasser and the harassed employee.

When harassment occurs at the workplace, the employer is responsible for taking immediate action against the harasser. This is because all employees have a right to work in an environment that is comfortable and tension free. Harassment at the workplace is against the law.

A person in a superior position cannot ask sexual favors from an employee in return for an employeeÂ's promotion. By thus harassing an employee, he is made less productive as his work gets hampered as he then becomes physically and mentally vulnerable.

In these cases, the employer or the union is supposed to take action. But if they fail, an outside agency can be approached such as the Human Rights Commission. Even if the victim cannot take steps against the harasser, another person can lodge a complaint.

In cases of harassment, it is best for the victim that he/she inform at least a third person, who can be of help. This way, harassments can be dealt better, as legal action is not always the only possible solution.

Further, it can be tough for the victim to fight the harassment case without the support of other employees. But to identify a case of job harassment, it is first essential to understand the relationship between the two parties and also how comfortable the victim is with the remark by the specific harasser.

Job harassment is rampant throughout the world, inspite of the many laws that have been framed against the same. The crux of the matter is that the lengthy legal process and the wide gap in authority between that wielded by harassers in superior positions on the one hand and the harassment victim on the other, results in most cases getting swept under the carpet.