Example Scenarios

Understanding Violence & Harassment: Real-life Scenarios

In the workplace, understanding the boundaries of acceptable behaviour is crucial. However, these boundaries can sometimes seem blurred, leading to confusion about what constitutes harassment or violence. The following scenarios aim to shed light on different situations that one might encounter in the workplace. By examining these examples, we hope to offer clarity on what is considered harassment, violence, or acceptable behaviour.

Each scenario provides an example of an interaction in the workplace. After reading the scenario you can click the dropdown to

Jane, a new employee, is constantly approached by her colleague Mark, who makes unwelcome comments about her appearance and asks her out repeatedly even after she's declined.

Is it Vexatious: Yes

A reasonable person should know it's unwelcome?: Yes

Verdict: 🚫 Harassment.

Explanation: Mark's repeated unwanted advances and comments about Jane's appearance create an intimidating and hostile work environment for her. Mark should have been aware that his behaviour was unwelcome after Jane declined his first request.

Two long-time friends, Aisha and Carlos, often share jokes and stories from their personal lives. They laugh about them and no one feels uncomfortable.

Is it Vexatious? No

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome?: No

Verdict: ✅ Not Harassment.

Explanation: Both Aisha and Carlos have a mutual understanding and neither feels threatened or uncomfortable. However, it's essential to ensure that their conversations don't make others in the workplace uncomfortable.

At a team meeting, Sarah publicly criticizes Tom's work and calls him incompetent in front of their colleagues.

Is it Vexatious? Yes

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome? Yes

Verdict: 🚫 Harassment.

Explanation: Public humiliation and degradation can be considered a form of harassment. It's essential to provide feedback in a constructive and respectful manner.

During a busy day, Mike accidentally bumps into Lucy while turning around. He immediately apologizes.

Is it Vexatious? No

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome? N/A

Verdict: ✅ Not Harassment.

Explanation: This was an unintentional act, and Mike showed immediate remorse. It's important to differentiate between unintentional incidents and deliberate acts of harassment.

In a heated argument, John tells his coworker Rita, "You'll regret this."

Is it Vexatious? Yes

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome? Yes

Verdict: ⚠️ Violence.

Explanation: Threats, whether verbal or physical, can be considered a form of violence. It's essential to address such behaviours immediately and ensure a safe working environment.

During a team lunch, Alex makes a comment about Lisa's dress, saying, "That dress makes you look really sexy." Lisa feels uncomfortable but doesn't say anything.

Is it Vexatious? Yes

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome? Yes

Verdict: 🚫 Sexual Harassment.

Explanation: Making unsolicited comments about a colleague's appearance, especially those with sexual undertones, is inappropriate and can create a hostile work environment. It's crucial for employees to be aware of how their words can affect others and to refrain from making such comments.

After a presentation, David tells Emily, "You looked really professional and confident today, and that outfit suits you." Emily isn't sure how to feel about the comment.

Is it Vexatious? Maybe

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome? Maybe

Verdict: 🤔 Borderline.

Explanation: While David's comment starts as a professional compliment, mentioning the outfit can be seen as unnecessary and can make some individuals uncomfortable. It's important to be cautious when commenting on a colleague's appearance, even if the intent is positive. The impact on the recipient is what determines if something is harassment, not necessarily the intent of the person delivering the comment.

A team uses a messaging app for day-to-day communication. A group of employees creates a separate chat without Neil, where they frequently mock his work, share memes making fun of him, and criticize his contributions. Screenshots from this chat are occasionally sent to Neil anonymously, making him dread checking his messages.

Is it Vexatious? Yes

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome? Yes

Verdict: 🚫 Cyberbullying.

Explanation: Excluding a colleague and creating a platform to mock and belittle them constitutes cyberbullying. The act of sending Neil screenshots further intensifies the harm, making him feel isolated, targeted, and demeaned. Cyberbullying can have severe psychological impacts, and it's essential to treat online interactions with the same respect and professionalism as in-person ones.

Priya recently migrated to Canada and joined the team. Every time she speaks in meetings, her colleague, Robert, imitates her accent mockingly and frequently makes remarks like, "Do they do it this way in your country?" and "You wouldn't understand this, it's a Canadian thing." Priya feels singled out and belittled because of her nationality and accent.

Is it Vexatious? Yes

A reasonable person would know it's unwelcome? Yes

Verdict: 🚫 Discriminatory Harassment.

Explanation: Robert's actions target Priya based on her nationality and accent, which is a form of discrimination. Mocking someone's accent or continually pointing out their differences based on national origin is not only unprofessional but also creates a hostile and unwelcoming work environment. Discriminatory harassment goes against the principles of equality and respect that workplaces should uphold.

Page updated

Report abuse