Harassment in the Workplace

Sylvia S.
Harassment in the Workplace
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words only definitions & notes
  1. harassment
    the act of tormenting by persistent attacks and criticism
    Harassment in the Workplace
  2. behavior
    the way a person acts toward other people
    Harassment in the workplace is behavior deemed offensive or unwanted.
  3. deem
    judge or regard in a particular way
    Harassment in the workplace is behavior deemed offensive or unwanted.
  4. offensive
    unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses
    Harassment in the workplace is behavior deemed offensive or unwanted.
  5. hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
    The result of harassment is a hostile environment that leaves an employee feeling intimidated or offended, according to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  6. intimidated
    made scared or fearful as by threats
    The result of harassment is a hostile environment that leaves an employee feeling intimidated or offended, according to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  7. offend
    cause to feel resentment or indignation
    The result of harassment is a hostile environment that leaves an employee feeling intimidated or offended, according to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  8. accord
    concurrence of opinion
    The result of harassment is a hostile environment that leaves an employee feeling intimidated or offended, according to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  9. equal
    having the same quantity, value, or measure as another
    The result of harassment is a hostile environment that leaves an employee feeling intimidated or offended, according to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  10. opportunity
    a possibility from a favorable combination of circumstances
    The result of harassment is a hostile environment that leaves an employee feeling intimidated or offended, according to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  11. commission
    the act of granting authority to undertake certain functions
    The result of harassment is a hostile environment that leaves an employee feeling intimidated or offended, according to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  12. framework
    the underlying structure
    The upper management sets the framework for the office, including a workplace free of harassment of any form
  13. advance
    move forward
    • Sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual advances, sexual language or jokes and talk about sexually explicit topics.
  14. explicit
    precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable
    • Sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual advances, sexual language or jokes and talk about sexually explicit topics.
  15. bullying
    the act of intimidating a weaker person to do something
    Bullying behaviors in which the aggressor tries to push around another employee falls under the harassment category.
  16. harass
    annoy continually or chronically
    An employee might harass a co-worker based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or disabilities.
  17. ethnicity
    an affiliation resulting from racial or cultural ties
    An employee might harass a co-worker based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or disabilities.
  18. orientation
    the act of determining one's position
    An employee might harass a co-worker based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or disabilities.
  19. disability
    a condition that prevents one from performing some task
    An employee might harass a co-worker based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or disabilities.
  20. derogatory
    expressive of low opinion
    This might include direct derogatory comments about the person or general jokes and comments about a group of people.
  21. target
    a reference point to shoot at
    The harassment may cause the target to feel embarrassed or ostracized.
  22. embarrassed
    feeling or caused to feel uneasy and self-conscious
    The harassment may cause the target to feel embarrassed or ostracized.
  23. ostracize
    expel from a community or group
    The harassment may cause the target to feel embarrassed or ostracized.
  24. gossip
    light informal conversation for social occasions
    Even gossip or rumors that intend to harm the character of an employee may qualify as harassment.
  25. rumor
    gossip passed around by word of mouth
    Even gossip or rumors that intend to harm the character of an employee may qualify as harassment.
  26. intend
    have in mind as a purpose
    Even gossip or rumors that intend to harm the character of an employee may qualify as harassment.
  27. witness
    someone who sees an event and reports what happened
    • Harassment creates a negative workplace environment for the person being harassed and often for other employees who witness the activity.
  28. promptly
    with little or no delay
    If the management doesn't handle the harassment promptly and fairly, fear and frustration are possible.
  29. deny
    declare untrue; contradict
    The company can be held liable if no actions were taken or if the harassed individual was fired, denied a promotion or experienced other negative actions.
  30. promotion
    the act of raising in rank or position
    The company can be held liable if no actions were taken or if the harassed individual was fired, denied a promotion or experienced other negative actions.
  31. policy
    a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
    Policies
  32. tolerance
    willingness to respect the beliefs or practices of others
    A zero-tolerance policy for harassment is essential in any workplace.
  33. essential
    basic and fundamental
    A zero-tolerance policy for harassment is essential in any workplace.
  34. incident
    a single distinct event
    Include the process for handling an incident of harassment, including how to report the event and what will happen after a report is received.
  35. event
    something that happens at a given place and time
    Include the process for handling an incident of harassment, including how to report the event and what will happen after a report is received.
  36. implemented
    forced or compelled or put in force
    The policy needs to be implemented consistently for all staff members.
  37. consistently
    in a systematic or steady manner
    The policy needs to be implemented consistently for all staff members.
  38. require
    have need of
    When you require employees to attend an actual training session, you know they hear and read the policy.
  39. potential
    existing in possibility
    You get the opportunity to go into more detail on the types of behaviors that are not acceptable and the potential consequences of engaging in harassing behavior.
  40. consequence
    a phenomenon that is caused by some previous phenomenon
    You get the opportunity to go into more detail on the types of behaviors that are not acceptable and the potential consequences of engaging in harassing behavior.
  41. engaging
    attracting or delighting
    You get the opportunity to go into more detail on the types of behaviors that are not acceptable and the potential consequences of engaging in harassing behavior.
  42. clarification
    the act of removing solid particles from a liquid
    The training also gives employees an opportunity to ask questions about the policy for clarification.
  43. illegal
    prohibited by law or by official or accepted rules
    Workplace harassment is illegal under Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws.
  44. psychological
    mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature
    It can cause an employee an array of psychological and physical symptoms, especially if it is not reported and the person continues to be exposed.
  45. physical
    involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
    It can cause an employee an array of psychological and physical symptoms, especially if it is not reported and the person continues to be exposed.
  46. investigate
    conduct an inquiry of
    Employers should educate all employees on this topic, and managers or supervisors should investigate any reports of harassment in the workplace.
  47. civil
    of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
    • According to The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and Civil Rights Act of 1991 offer protection from workplace harassment.
  48. affiliation
    the act of becoming formally connected or joined
    Workplace harassment is any behavior that is hurtful or shows aggression toward an employee and based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, disability or veteran status.
  49. veteran
    a person who has served in the armed forces
    Workplace harassment is any behavior that is hurtful or shows aggression toward an employee and based on race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, disability or veteran status.
  50. uncomfortable
    providing or experiencing physical unease
    Harassment creates an intimidating, uncomfortable, or abusive environment and can interfere with an employee's performance.
  51. abusive
    characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment
    Harassment creates an intimidating, uncomfortable, or abusive environment and can interfere with an employee's performance.
  52. interfere
    get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action
    Harassment creates an intimidating, uncomfortable, or abusive environment and can interfere with an employee's performance.
  53. affect
    have an influence upon
    Harassment can also affect an employee's compensation or advancement opportunities.
  54. compensation
    the act of making amends for service, loss, or injury
    Harassment can also affect an employee's compensation or advancement opportunities.
  55. retaliation
    action taken in return for an injury or offense
    Retaliation
  56. penalty
    the disadvantage or painful consequences of an action
    If an employee reports harassment and there are delays in an investigation, or penalties or intimidation occur because the harassment was reported, a company can be held liable.
  57. intimidation
    the act of scaring a weaker person to make them do something
    If an employee reports harassment and there are delays in an investigation, or penalties or intimidation occur because the harassment was reported, a company can be held liable.
  58. occur
    come to pass
    If an employee reports harassment and there are delays in an investigation, or penalties or intimidation occur because the harassment was reported, a company can be held liable.
  59. authority
    the power or right to give orders or make decisions
    In "quid pro quo," a person who has authority over an employee offers or withholds a benefit in exchange for sexual favors.
  60. withhold
    hold back; refuse to hand over or share
    In "quid pro quo," a person who has authority over an employee offers or withholds a benefit in exchange for sexual favors.
  61. repeated
    recurring again and again
    The second type is a "hostile" work environment--unwanted repeated sexual comments, touching or any behavior that creates an uncomfortable work environment.
  62. unsolicited
    not asked for
    Sexual harassment is when any unsolicited sexual advances, request for sexual favors in verbal or written form or any unwelcome behavior requests are made by a co-worker, supervisor or manager.
  63. prevention
    the act of hindering
    Prevention
  64. guideline
    a rule that provides direction for appropriate behavior
    The EEOC has issued many guidelines that are available to employers to provide harassment training.
  65. reprimand
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    An employee who participates in harassment should face immediate reprimand or termination.
  66. termination
    the act of ending something
    An employee who participates in harassment should face immediate reprimand or termination.
Created on Thu Jun 06 12:33:34 EDT 2013

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