Workplace harassment: how to recognise it and protect yourself

Workplace harassment is behaviour that frightens or humiliates human dignity. It includes offensive remarks, jokes or gestures. The most common forms are:

• ambiguous remarks directed at you;
• jokes with sexual undertones;
• inappropriate “compliments” about your appearance or clothes;
• physical contact without your consent;
• comments about sexual preferences and gender identity;
• coercion into intimacy through salary blackmail or threats of dismissal.

Harassment is any of these actions that hinders the performance of duties and humiliates a person.

How to act

Where possible, don't react to an offensive remark. Since this usually recurs, gather evidence: record the conversation, save correspondence and screenshots, find witnesses — and go to the police. You have the right to a safe environment.