Workplace harassment and bullying can take on many forms of behaviour such as:

• violence
• intimidation
• threats – verbal or written
• offensive or inappropriate jokes
• inappropriate teasing
• inappropriate touching
• offensive gestures
• insults
• public shaming/embarrassment

Legitimate performance management, including direction, feedback, and discipline from a superior does not constitute bullying and harassment.

Your employer is expected to provide you with a workplace that treats you with decency, civility, and dignity, ensuring you are free from all forms of harassment and bullying. Your employer is expected to act quickly with an investigation and appropriate action steps, in response to your reporting the incident(s).

Bullying and harassment can come from many sources, including your bosses, coworkers, your employer’s vendors and suppliers, customers, clients, patients, investors, and other stakeholders. Bullying and harassment can even come from people unrelated to your employer if your employer does not take steps to prevent repeated instances.

Many times, the act of harassment or bullying will not be objectively clear to your employer, or it may be carried out by individuals who are neither supervisory nor managerial. You may not feel comfortable remaining in your workplace or reporting it to your employer. In all cases, it is important that you meet with an employment lawyer who can counsel you through your options and advise what steps you may wish to take to protect yourself and enforce your legal rights. Intolerable working conditions stemming from personal harassment or bullying may entitle you to quit your job with a fair severance package.