Harassment in workplace - Essay Example

Running Head: Harassment at Workplace Harassment at Workplace [Institute’s Harassment at Workplace This paper deals with the very important business issue that is work place harassment. “Harassment is an act that makes or feels some one in easy and uncomfortable” (Ontario Womens Directorate, 2000). Harassment can be because of gender, family, religion beliefs, looks, age, sexual preferences, etc. Even a small comment either positive or negative that one does not like is also harassment. Similarly work place harassment is when some ones boss, manager, supervisor, customer or patient harasses you while you are performing your job or on your path to or from work.

Harassment cases may occur both on and off the job. They can occur at the working desk as well as in a corporate function.The law also states that one have the right to work in the hostile work environment that is not poisoned by harassment. Definitions categorize harassment in many types and law covers most of them but organizations should clearly define the nature of harassment while formulating policies at workplace. Harassment is conscious, offensive, verbal or non- verbal abusive behavior or act that aims to harm individual.

One has to raise voice against harassment as it is misapply of power and control, it may be hiding of deficiencies like lack of management, or people skill or it may be lack of leadership quality. Harassers tend o project their deficiencies onto other making them feel upset, threatened and embarrassed or interferes with an individual’s ability to do his or her job. Workplace harassment cannot only cause serious damage to the performance of the victim at work but may also result in accumulation of work related stress in personal life as well.

Organizations are pursuing different programs to teach employees at all levels and especially executives regarding the behavior; they need to exhibit while dealing with each other (Ellis-Christensen, 2009). Strategies for preventing, identifying and reporting on sexual harassment will surely help in declining work place harassment and it will encourage employees to stand against any harassment without any hesitation and undue influence.Legal cases have shown that discrimination at work place is also included in harassment.

Nowadays, every organization develops its own code of ethical conducts that is desirable from the employees and elements of harassment are comprehensively covered into it. Each employee not only agrees to abide by these rules and regulations but also submit a signed consent form that holds legal values in case of a violation. However, apart from framing a comprehensive policy, it is most important that employer should ensure its implementation in letter and spirit. This not only act as a motivating tool for the employees but will be a key toward developing friendly environment to curb harassment at work place.

Feeling of being insecure while at work is the most clear of the indicators that there might be workplace harassment taking place somewhere. However, some time in our lives every of us have to face some behaviors that make us uneasy that person may be our boss or customer or supervisor that makes workplace unpleasant. One should also keep in mind that some top executives are really demanding and tough to their employees but that behavior is not workplace harassment or they are doing nothing against the law.

Sometimes, taking legal action is not the right way to handle work place harassment. In this way, opposing view might disagree with my statements of raising voice against any kind of harassment. Some work place issues can be easily handled without legal support. Two-way communications is best way to sort out such cases and issues at work place.ConclusionWe can summarize the topic with the conclusion that work place harassment is one issue to which organization should proactively look at before it becomes a real menace.

Wok place harassment is something, which should not be prevailing in any organization. Since, it can destroy the progress within no times. Organizations should not only formulate comprehensive policies to cater the issue but should implement them in letter and spirit as well. ReferencesEllis-Christensen, T. (2009). Workplace Harassment Training. Retrieved on December 01, 2009: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-workplace-harassment-training.htmOntario Womens Directorate. (2000). Talking about harassment.

Retrieved on December 01, 2009: http://www.womanabuseprevention.com/html/harassment.html#whatisharassment