Workplace Harassment- Is Big Brother Watching You?Committing workplace harassment is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The harassment can come in the form of physical or verbal actions. It happens when unwanted conduct or comments are made based on someone’s race, age, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or color. In order to be workplace harassment the conduct must be abusive or hostile. This depends on how often the incidents occur, how severe the actions or conduct are, if it is of a threatening nature or humiliating, and if it affects the individual’s ability to perform their job. Any person who is in the workplace can be responsible for workplace harassment. Co-workers, managers, even people who are not employed by the company such as vendors, a contractor, or any non-employee. Also anyone can be the victim of t his type of misconduct. Some sexual harassment in the workplace includes conduct in the manner of verbal remarks such as comments about body parts, sexually suggestive looks, telling jokes which are sexually oriented or lewd. Physical harassment can be looking at someone in a way which suggests sexual behavior, putting your hands on an employee in a sexually suggestive manner – such as pinching the rear end or other private places. Workplace harassment such as letters or email can be handled through surveillance. Around 14 million workers here in the U. S. are being monitored on a continuous basis. The figure grows to 27 million being monitored throughout the entire world. Most of the surveillance is being done because of strict workplace rules concerning communications between clients and brokers regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, employers are also using this type of surveillance to monitor the conduct of workers concerning wasted time. This fast growing workplace monitoring is also undoubtedly catching those who are sending messages, letters, or emails containing workplace harassment elements such as sexually suggestive material or possibly notes or letters containing racial, age, religious, or other offensive remarks. If workplace harassment drives you out of your current position it can be mentally strenuous, so take care of contracts and agreements before severing your ties. Counseling is available through the State Employee Federal Assistance Program if you have experienced workplace harassment. |