What Is Workplace Harassment?

Workplace Harassment Is Unwelcome Conduct

Video Transcribed:  What is workplace harassment in Oklahoma? I’m Oklahoma Workers Rights Lawyer Colby Addison, and workplace harassment is considered unwelcome conduct.

Now, that’s a broad term, but unwelcome conduct that becomes unlawful is generally based on a certain protected classification that you are, so your race, your color, your religion, your sex, your national origin, your age, your disability, or maybe you’ve complained about something and you’re being harassed because of some sort of retaliation.

It becomes unlawful in the employment context when either one of two things occur. If you’re required to endure the offensive conduct as it becomes a condition of continued employment, or the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.

Now, bear in mind that certain one-off situations that you might find unwelcome or harassing do not necessarily qualify as unlawful workplace harassment. Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated incidents, unless extremely serious, will not rise to that level of illegality.

Generally, the first thing that you need to do is contact your employer to go through the steps that are necessary to complain about this workplace harassment. If you have questions about how to follow those steps, I would recommend contacting us to seek assistance, legal assistance, and advice on how to move forward in this regard.

Additionally, you can also contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Office of Civil Rights Enforcement with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office to get assistance on that as well. For your particular situation, if you feel like you’ve been subject to workplace harassment, contact an Oklahoma workplace harassment attorney at oklahomaworkersrights.com.