How Pervasive Harassing Conduct Manifests in the Workplace
What Is Pervasive Conduct?
Pervasive harassing conduct is a serious issue that can significantly impact an employee's well-being and professional life. Pervasive conduct refers to unwelcome behavior that is incessant and frequent enough to create a hostile work environment or make continued employment intolerable. Typically, the harassment or abusive behavior targets someone based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, or disability.
Pervasive conduct can appear in the workplace in several ways, including the following:
- Making sexually suggestive comments or jokes
- Displaying sexually explicit material
- Spreading rumors or gossip
- Engaging in unwanted physical contact, such as touching or hugging
- Making derogatory comments
- Using offensive language or slurs
- Sabotaging an employee's work or excluding them from meetings or social events based on their protected characteristics
- Continuously interrupting or talking over someone in a demeaning way
- Dismissing or ignoring complaints about inappropriate behavior
- Creating a hostile work environment through intimidation or bullying tactics
- Retaliating against an employee for reporting harassing or abusive conduct
Pervasive harassing conduct can be incredibly damaging to a person's mental and physical health, often leading to anxiety, stress, depression, and other serious health conditions. It can also negatively affect an employee's job performance, productivity, and career advancement. If you are experiencing pervasive harassing conduct in the workplace, taking immediate action to protect your rights and well-being is essential.
What to Do If You Have Been the Victim of Pervasive Conduct
When confronted with pervasive harassing or otherwise hostile workplace behavior, knowing what to do first can be confusing, and you may feel unsure of what to do. Firstly, it is important to document any incidents that occur, including dates, times, locations, and witnesses. You should also report the behavior to your employer, as they are legally obligated to investigate and address workplace harassment.
However, if your employer fails to take appropriate action to remedy the situation or if you experience retaliation for reporting the behavior, it may be time to seek legal representation from an experienced employment attorney, like ours at Harris Grombchevsky LLP.
To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online.