Workplace harassment is a serious issue that affects employee well-being, productivity, and company culture. Today’s digital and hybrid work model has introduced new forms of harassment, making it essential for organizations and employees to understand how harassment appears and how it can be prevented.

In this guide, we will explain the 10 most common types of workplace harassment, provide real-world examples, and outline the steps organizations can take to create a safe, respectful environment for everyone.

1. Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment involves any unwanted sexual behavior, gesture, comment, or physical contact. It can be verbal, non-verbal, or physical.

Types of Sexual Harassment

• Quid Pro Quo: Favor in exchange for sexual behavior
• Hostile Work Environment: Making the workplace uncomfortable or unsafe through sexual jokes, comments, or actions

Examples

• Unwanted touching
• Sending inappropriate messages
• Sexual jokes or comments
• Asking for dates repeatedly

2. Discriminatory Harassment

Discriminatory harassment happens when an employee is targeted based on protected characteristics, such as:

• Race
• Gender
• Religion
• Age
• Disability
• Ethnicity
• Sexual orientation

Examples

• Racial slurs
• Age-based insults (“too old for this job”)
• Mocking someone’s accent
• Religious jokes

3. Personal Harassment

This is non-protected but still harmful behavior that targets someone’s personal traits.

Examples

• Mocking the way someone dresses
• Making fun of personality traits
• Calling someone offensive names
• Excluding someone intentionally

4. Physical Harassment

Physical harassment includes any aggressive physical behavior intended to intimidate, harm, or threaten.

Examples

• Pushing, hitting, kicking
• Throwing objects
• Damage to someone’s belongings
• Invading personal space aggressively

5. Verbal Harassment

Verbal harassment includes offensive or hurtful language that creates a hostile environment.

Examples

• Yelling or shouting
• Threats of harm
• Insulting comments
• Spreading gossip or rumors

6. Psychological Harassment

Also known as emotional abuse, psychological harassment damages mental health.

Examples

• Gaslighting
• Public humiliation
• Manipulation
• Intentionally isolating an employee

7. Power Harassment

Power harassment occurs when someone in a position of authority, such as a manager, supervisor, or team lead, mistreats or controls employees unfairly. This form of harassment can be particularly damaging because victims often feel unable to speak up out of fear of losing their jobs, harming their reputation, or facing retaliation.

It is not always overt or aggressive; sometimes, it manifests through subtle, repeated actions that induce stress, fear, or humiliation. The main aim is typically to dominate, intimidate, or coerce the employee into conforming to certain expectations.

Examples

• Assigning impossible tasks to force failure
• Threatening job loss
• Excessive micromanagement
• Unfair workload distribution

8. Online Harassment (Cyberbullying)

With remote and hybrid work, online harassment has become more common.

Examples

• Insulting emails or messages
• Offensive comments in group chats
• Harassing video calls
• Sharing private information online

9. Retaliation Harassment

Retaliation happens when an employee is punished for reporting harassment or participating in an investigation.

Examples

• Demotion
• Unfair performance reviews
• Excluding from meetings
• Reducing responsibilities intentionally

10. Third-Party Harassment

Harassment doesn’t always come from within the company; it can also come from external individuals you interact with during work. This includes:

• Clients
• Vendors
• Customers
• Contractors

Examples

• A client is making inappropriate comments
• A vendor threatening an employee
• A customer using abusive language

How Organizations Can Prevent Workplace Harassment

1. Clear Anti-Harassment Policies

A well-written policy helps employees understand acceptable behavior and how to report issues.

2. Regular Training

Annual or quarterly training ensures employees understand harassment types and reporting channels.

3. Anonymous Reporting Tools

Anonymous systems help employees report incidents without fear.

4. Fair and Timely Investigations

Every complaint should be documented and investigated with transparency.

5. Strong Company Culture

Leaders must set the tone by promoting respect, empathy, and accountability.

Conclusion

Workplace harassment can take many forms, including verbal, physical, psychological, or digital. Understanding these categories helps employees recognize the signs early and empowers organizations to create a safe and inclusive workplace.

Safe workplaces are productive workplaces. Prevention is always better than reaction.