This presentation is meant to help employees grasp a basic understanding of harassment and ways of dealing with individuals who perpetrate these actions.

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Work place
Harassment
SPOTTING AND DEALING WITH WORKPLACE
HARASSMENT
By Albert Mashamba
(HR Consultant & Industrial Psychologist)

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Spotting Harassment
 Harassment occurs where:
 enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued
employment
OR
 the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create
a work environment that a reasonable person would consider
intimidating, hostile, or abusive.
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 Its important to note that harassment can and does
take place to ALL groups within the workplace
ALBEIT there are demographics which are more
vulnerable!
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Who Suffers from Workplace
Harassment?
 Workplace ‘bullies’ are typically attracted to people who are;
 Threatening to them- people who are more liked, more skilled,
more of a peoples person they may face harassment from their
boss or co-worker.
 Whistle blowers –people who call out unscrupulous colleagues
 Vulnerable people in lower positions and minorieties
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Prevalence of Harassment in the
workplace
Most likely one of the manifestations/forms:
 Cyber harassment
 Sexual harassment
 Physical/verbal harassment
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CYBER HARASSMENT
 What is Cyber harassment?
 Spamming, Sending sexual/inappropriate mail, stalking,
spreading false accusations, defamation, slander and libel.
 In several countries labour law doesn’t covers
this and it is important for companies to try and
set up a code of conduct which makes clear rules
around use of cyber-space.
 Code of conduct should be tailored to deal with these issues and
there should be appropriate disciplinary measures put in place.
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SEXUAL HARASSMENT
 Sexual harassment is an exceptionally common in the
workplace.
 Women have generally been a target when it comes to this form
of harassment although there has been a rise in male victims.
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Culture of Sexual Harassment
“Quid pro quo”
 A lot of sexual harassment comes in this form.
 Co-workers or bosses make it clear that they will assist
you if you are willing to perform a sexual favour for them
 VERY COMMON IN RECRUITMENT PROCESS
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PHYSICAL/VERBAL HARASSMENT
 Although slightly less prevalent in most organisations it is still a
very potent form of harassment which can cause a lot of distress
to an employee.
 Any physical/verbal harassment should be reported to relevant
parties immediately.
 Individuals who show unprofessional conduct in the manner in
which they speak to people should be
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Dealing with harassment
 There are several methods of catching bullies and
making sure they are brought to books;
 Inform the offensive person of your opinion! (This should
usually be your first step)
 Get hard evidence (write it down, take photos, voice
recording).
 List Witnesses (Get people to testify for you)
 Seek Help
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Post traumatic treatment
 It is important to realize that after an employee who goes
through any form of workplace harassment is going to be
vulnerable and it is important for them to have support from
all angles (Family, friends and work).
 There should always be the option for employees to use
company resources like the counselling services available
within the organisation or alternatively the organisation can
pay for the bills for external councillors.
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