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Harassment in the Workplace
Understand the difference between labor conflict and harassment, moral or sexual, and know how to react.
What is it?
We speak of harassment in the workplace when engaging in any unwanted behaviour (word, gesture, attitude) against a person, with the aim of achieving their dignity, affecting their physical and/or psychological integrity or creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating and destabilising environment for them.
Not all conflict situations occurring in a workplace should be considered harassment. What marks the difference between labor conflict and harassment is intentionality. Furthermore, harassment in the workplace is a process and not an isolated phenomenon/act (however serious it may be), involving a set of behaviours that occur systematically, repeatedly and repeatedly over time.
- Moral Harassment
Moral Harassment
It corresponds to verbal, offensive and humiliating attacks, as well as more subtle acts, and may include physical and/or psychological violence, with the aim of diminishing the victim’s self-esteem and ultimately disengagement from the job.
Common Behaviour- Social isolation
- Professional persecution
- Intimidation and personal humiliation
- Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment
It concerns the adoption of behaviours of a sexual, physical and/or verbal nature, unwanted by the target person.
Common Behaviour- Obscene gestures
- Sending sexual messages/invitations
- Attempt at embarrassing physical contact
- Blackmailing for employment or advancement in exchange for sexual favours
Who's the victim?
Anyone, in any type of work/organisation, may become a victim of harassment (moral and/or sexual).
Depending on the place of the hierarchy that each actor in the situation occupies, we will be talking about different types of harassment, moral and sexual. That is, harassment can occur between colleagues of the same hierarchical level, but mostly occurs on the part of people who occupy different hierarchical levels within the organization (eg: by the superior to a subordinate or by the subordinate to the hierarchical superior).
What is the impact?
Harassment in the workplace is a form of violence that comes at a cost to each and every one of us.
Even if not taken on or reported, it contaminates the working environment and can have a devastating effect on victims, but also on witnesses, on the employer itself and, in a broader sense, on the state and society.
Although situations of psychological and sexual harassment in the work context may affect each victim differently, it is common for victims to have the following reactions: confusion, shock, general panic, feeling of being living a nightmare, disorientation, feeling of loneliness, apathy, irritability, anxiety, among others. Victims may be affected by their health, confidence and professional performance and may result in a reduction in their work effectiveness or even their removal from work due to illness.
What support is available?
Because victims most often find themselves in an unequal power relationship with perpetrators, it is extremely difficult to react and report harassment in the workplace.
Often, the victim is afraid of suffering reprisals, such as the intensification of aggressive behaviour or even job loss.
However, whatever the situation of harassment occurs, it must be terminated and the victim may try to resolve the situation by his or her own means or use a more formal approach.
Recommended Reaction Strategies
- Look at harassment as a serious problem, which it really is, so that it is also for everyone around you.
- Make clear to the aggressor his/her displeasure and refusal in the face of the behaviour
- Share with someone (relatives, friends you trust) the problem that affects you
- Support the solidarity of co-workers
- Keep a record of the incidents that occurred (when and where it occurred, what was said/done, the people involved and any witnesses, written evidence of the situation), so that it can be used to illustrate a pattern of events, in case of recourse to legal channels to resolve the situation
Where to Report or Ask for Support
Victims of harassment in the workplace will be able to report the situation and/or ask for support:
- Hierarchically
- To the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT)
- To the Commission for Equality at Work and Employment (ISCED)
- At the Trade Unions
- Authorities (PSP, GNR or Public Prosecution Service)
- At APAV