Physical harassment in the workplace is a form of workplace violence that occurs when an individual or group of individuals are subjected to unwanted, offensive, or violent physical contact or gestures. This type of harassment can range from minor physical contact to serious physical assault and can have severe consequences for both the individuals targeted and the overall work environment. In this blog post, we will discuss what constitutes physical harassment, the forms it can take, the impact it can have, and steps that can be taken to prevent and address it.
What is Physical Harassment?
Physical harassment is unwanted, offensive, or violent physical contact or gestures that create a hostile or intimidating work environment for an individual or group of individuals. This can include any form of physical contact that is violent, threatening, or intimidating in nature, such as hitting, pushing, or making threatening gestures.
Forms of Physical Harassment
Physical harassment can take many forms and can range from minor physical contact to serious physical assault. Some examples of physical harassment include:
- Touching someone without their consent
- Physical assault, such as hitting, punching, or pushing
- Unwanted sexual advances or unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature
- Making threatening gestures, such as pointing a finger or brandishing a weapon
- Stalking or following someone in a way that is threatening or intimidating
- Harassment that creates a physical barrier that impedes or intimidates, like blocking the way or crowding someone into a corner.
Impact of Physical Harassment
The impact of physical harassment can be severe and long-lasting. Individuals who are subjected to physical harassment may suffer physical injuries, as well as emotional and psychological trauma. This can result in decreased job performance, and increased absenteeism, and in some cases, the individual may leave their job or be terminated. In addition, physical harassment can create a toxic work environment for everyone, including those who may not be directly targeted but who witness the behaviour.
Emotional and verbal abuse are also the same as physical harassment.
Because emotional and verbal abuse also impacts a person's mind as same as physical abuse.
Are you a victim who is facing verbal harassment in the workplace?
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