Harassment is a form of discrimination that happens in the workplace and which takes on different forms. It can come as a verbal or physical conduct against race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or retaliation or generally called "legally protected characteristics" are all forms of harassment in the workplace.

Although prevalent in various degrees, a conduct qualifies as harassment if:

1. the conduct has become severe or pervasive as to spur hostility within your working environment; or
2. a superior's conduct can result in the alteration of an employee's benefits and/or employment status (e.g. deference of promotion, demotion, taking out a benefit, etc.).

What is harassment in the workplace?

Harassment in the workplace is any conduct, typically targeting but not limited to female employees, is any conduct by a superior or any employee that would make you feel uncomfortable, or if someone is saying things that make you feel uncomfortable. It could also be that someone is doing conduct against you that puts you at risk in some way, this, while you are doing your work.

The aggressor can harass you in any of these personal qualities:

• gender
• race
• disability
• age
• appearance
• gender preference
• religious beliefs
• family
• birth place
• political inclinations

These actions may be any of these:

• leering or ogling
• making offensive remarks about your appearance, body, clothing
• touching or caressing, such as pinching, or someone intentionally brushing your body against your own
• telling sexual jokes, hanging sexual photos that are offensive to you, making sexual gestures, etc.
• forwarding sexually suggestive letters, emails, images, etc.

Other actions with no sexual intentions at play but still qualify as forms of harassment include:

• derogatory words, demonstrations, comments, etc. that suggest racial discrimination
• negative comments that defame or mock another employee's religious beliefs
• expressed stereotyping of another employee's birthplace or ancestry
• derogatory remarks about an employee's disability (whether mental or physical)
• making disparaging comments about an individual's gender

Harassment in the workplace is a common thing even in the largest, supposedly professing high-morale, corporations. Some forms of harassment can even lead to tangible changes in employment status of the victim and, sometimes, superiors use this tactic to bribe employees just to get what they want.

What to do if you are harassed?

Any forms of harassment should be stopped at once and employees (with the female employees being most vulnerable) should immediately address this issue to the concerned department or individuals.

Seek out support. If it's your immediate superior doing this, find someone in his level or higher whom you can speak with about it. The law protects employees from any form of workplace harassment, so you are standing on solid ground if you do complain. Nobody has the right to harass you, but if you do not speak up, then you yourself is making it legal.

Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about a certain action of a colleague against you, then it is harassment. Some remarks can easily be passed on as a compliment, but if it makes you uneasy, then it can be harassment.

Take care of yourself. Harassment affects not only your job but personal life, as well. It can make you feel bad physically and emotionally, anxious about losing your job. However, if you choose to remain quiet, the harasser will only think you are pleased with his conduct.

The crux is to deal with harassment in a professional manner, such as filing a legal complaint. Protect yourself and your job. If you experience harassment in the workplace, it's best to speak up today.