Workplace harassment in New York is frequently defined as teasing, insulting an employee or making sexually explicit comments. While these can all be forms of harassment, some forms are more subtle and might not be noticed right away. Regardless, the victim has the right to report the harassment and file a lawsuit if the claims are ignored.
What are the forms of workplace harassment?
Workplace harassment can come in obvious forms like yelling or hitting, but it can also involve more subtle behaviors like intimidation or making inappropriate jokes. Here’s a rundown of the basic types of workplace harassment:
- Assault: This involves physical actions like hitting, kicking, throwing objects, pushing, shoving, slapping or otherwise making aggressive physical contact with a person.
- Sexual harassment: This includes inappropriate touching as well as lewd comments or requesting sexual favors in exchange for workplace benefits.
- Intimidation: This could involve threatening an employee or retaliating against them for taking a perfectly legal action.
- Ridicule: This includes mocking, teasing, belittling and making fun of an employee in front of them.
- Discrimination: This involves refusing to hire someone, denying them a promotion, giving them undesirable jobs, cutting their hours or otherwise treating them badly over their race, age, gender or another protected factor.
- Offensive images: This involves showing someone lewd or offensive images.
- Offensive jokes: This could include making a joke based on someone’s race, religion, gender or another factor.
If you’ve been the victim of harassment, get in touch with an employment law attorney. Counsel might be able to help you build a case and start gathering evidence against your employer.
Why should you file a harassment lawsuit?
You can be harassed by anyone in your workplace: managers, supervisors, co-workers, and even people who rank below you. They might claim that they’re joking or tell you not to take it seriously. However, you have the right to work in a comfortable environment that doesn’t include inappropriate touching or offensive comments. If upper management won’t do anything, an attorney could help you hold these people accountable.