Any form of harassment is never okay
The University defines harassment as “unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of:
- Violating another person’s dignity; or,
- Creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for [another individual].”
Harassment can take many forms, occurs in a variety of circumstances and may be directed at an individual or group of individuals. Harassment can take place in person, by telephone, by emails or social networking sites.
It is not the intention of the harasser, but the conduct itself and the impact on the recipient, which determines what constitutes harassment. The impact of harassment can result in the recipient feeling discomfort or humiliation and may adversely affect the recipient’s performance, undermine security or prospects, or create a threatening or intimidating learning or living environment. It may provoke aggressive, retaliatory attitudes and actions. Certain behaviour will be, by its nature or severity, unwelcome even on a single occasion.
Social interaction in the University involving mutually acceptable behaviour should be distinguished from harassment. However, it should be borne in mind that what is initially acceptable to some may be offensive to others, and what is acceptable between persons A and B may not be acceptable to person C. The key element in harassment is that it is the conduct that is repeated, unwanted, unreasonable and offensive to the recipient.
Harassment and bullying can encompass matters relating to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender reassignment, race or ethnic or national origins, socio-economic status, age, religion or similar philosophical belief, union membership or disability.
Examples of harassment include:
- Unnecessary touching;
- Unwanted physical contact or physical attack;
- Offensive, suggestive or derogatory remarks and gestures;
- Verbal abuse, threats or intrusive questioning;
- Insulting remarks based on the grounds of personal appearance or personal circumstances;
- Using an individual’s known disability to demoralise them;
- Leering at another individual’s body;
- Compromising invitations or gifts;
- Requests or demands for sexual favours;
- Circulation or displays of offensive, suggestive or degrading materials (such as pictures, graffiti or objects) in the teaching, learning, living or working environment;
- Sending of unwanted messages via email and social networking sites;
- Ridicule for cultural differences such as appearance, dress, diet, religion or ethnic background;
- Subjecting an individual to group pressure;
- Derogatory or belittling remarks in front of others regarding appearance, work or personal attributes;
- Deliberately or repeatedly ignoring someone;
- Unwarranted exclusions;
- Any comments which imply that gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, race or ethnic or national origins, religious or other belief impairs the individual’s ability to perform satisfactorily;
- Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct; and,
- Incitement to commit any such act.
Any difficulty in defining what constitutes harassment should not deter an individual from complaining of behaviour which causes distress. Nor should anyone be deterred from making a complaint because of embarrassment or fear of intimidation or publicity. The University will respect the sensitivity involved in harassment complaints and their consequences as well as the need for the utmost confidentiality.