Section 2: Psychological Harassment at Work

2.1 What is psychological harassment?
[Student Manual, page 13]

You may be a victim of psychological harassment at work if the following four (4) conditions exist:

1. Somebody at work acts in a way that is humiliating, offensive or abusive to you. A reasonable person in the same situation as you must also find this act troubling.

   This behaviour must be repetitive or serious. What matters is not each act on its own, but all the acts taken together. Sometimes one act does not seem very harmful. However, all the acts taken together might make you feel badly.

   One act can also be considered psychological harassment if it is very serious and you feel badly for a long time after; and

2. The act or acts is/are hostile or unwanted.

   Hostile means unfriendly.

   Unwanted means you do not welcome the act, even if you do not say so out loud. You can tell someone you do not like the way they are acting with body language, for example, by the way you stand, or the look on your face; and

3. The act or acts harm your dignity or psychological or physical integrity.

   You feel ashamed or worthless because of the unwelcome act or acts. Your physical health may also suffer. For example, you get headaches, stomach-aches, or want to throw-up; and

4. You work in a poisoned work environment.

   This means you do not feel welcome in your workplace. You feel distanced /isolated/set apart from the other workers, or you are afraid to talk to your boss or another supervisor.

   You may suffer from psychological harassment only if all four of the above conditions exist.