When is harassment against the law

Offensive conduct may include, but is not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance.

Harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including, but not limited to, the following:. Prevention is the best tool to eliminate harassment in the workplace. Employers are encouraged to take appropriate steps to prevent and correct unlawful harassment.

They should clearly communicate to employees that unwelcome harassing conduct will not be tolerated. They can do this by establishing an effective complaint or grievance process, providing anti-harassment training to their managers and employees, and taking immediate and appropriate action when an employee complains.

Employers should strive to create an environment in which employees feel free to raise concerns and are confident that those concerns will be addressed. Employees are encouraged to inform the harasser directly that the conduct is unwelcome and must stop. Employees should also report harassment to management at an early stage to prevent its escalation. All incidents of harassment require employers or managers to respond quickly and appropriately.

Employers can also be held liable for harassment by their employees. Home quick guide Harassment. The law also has specific provisions relating to certain types of harassment.

Read about the law in Code of Civil Procedure section For a workplace violence situation, the harassment is defined in the same way as for civil harassment. For an employer to get a workplace violence restraining order on behalf of an employee, there needs to be reasonable proof that:. Skip to main content Skip to topics menu Skip to topics menu. Cancel Print. Advanced Search. When someone is being abused or harassed, he or she needs to decide on the best way to get legal protection from the abuse or harassment.

Then, the law says what type of protection someone can ask for and what he or she has to prove to get it.