Verbal Harassment - An Overview

A unwanted verbal comment which makes a person uncomfortable or unsafe is tantamount to be termed as verbal harassment. This can include sexual comments, whistling, noises, gestures, jokes, and comments on clothes and appearance. This threatens the person and makes the person feel embarrassed. This being a repetitive process often disturbs the victim mentally.

Verbal harassment is a type of bullying. Here the person harms the person who is more vulnerable. If verbal harassment is continued for long enough, the person is emotionally affected. Bullying also includes physical harm, but the bully does not always use physical threats. He rather threatens the victim verbally. He can call names, spread rumors, or make sexual comments. Verbal harassment is thus a more common form of bullying.

Verbal attacks can be made on the gender of a person, in which a direct attack on the sexual orientation of the person is made. Attacks on nationality, race, and ethnicity are also made. Here, the harasser makes a deliberate effort to hurt other people's sentiments. By undermining a person's country or racial background, he tries to promote inequality. This way they develop a feeling of national hatred among people.

When the actions of a person undermine the religious preference or belief of another person, this is also known as verbal harassment. In both the cases there may be clear or masked language that contains negative contents. This may be both religious or about a particular nation. There may be cases demeaning a country where the national sentiment is hurt. Certain religions or religious figures are also demeaned.

The right to freedom of speech is the right by the constitution to every person. But a speech that becomes verbal harassment is legally punishable. All employees have a right to work in an environment free of harassment. Hence, derogatory remarks may be considered as coming under verbal harassment under federal employment law. Employers need to take legal action for such behavior and provide with a remedy.

If no action is taken by the employer, there prevails a hostile work atmosphere, which affects the work of an employee, thereby it decreases his efficiency and hence his employment opportunities. The employer also becomes responsible for inaction in the court of law. If the verbal harassment is proved as severe, the law allows the affected employee to recover the damages.

Verbal harassment laws often conflict with a personÂ's right to speak freely. It becomes even more difficult to prove verbal harassment that does not have a sexual overtone. Here, the affected person should provide substantial witnesses or have detailed records of incidents. An agreement should also be made between the employee and the employer. If this is not possible, he should file a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

To prevent verbal harassment, companies must post anti-harassment policies. This makes the anti-harassment policy of the company clear to every employee. It should also establish grievance procedures that provide relief to harassment victims.