7 Types of Workplace Harassment Explained | Examples That Happen Every Day

         “Wait… that’s harassment?

If you’ve ever walked away from a meeting, a Zoom call, a casual lunch with coworkers, or even just scrolling through work messages, thinking, ‘Was that okay? Was that even legal?’ — you’re not alone.

Some of the most common forms of workplace harassment don’t come with flashing red lights or someone yelling in your face. Sometimes, it’s a sarcastic comment, a ‘joke’ that cuts too deep, or even a passive-aggressive email.

And yeah… some of it is still happening every single day — unnoticed, unreported, and untreated.

In this article, we’re diving into the different types of workplace harassment, and trust me — some of these will absolutely shock you.”

“Hey everyone — welcome back, or if you’re new here, I’m really glad you clicked on this article because what we’re talking about today is serious, uncomfortable, but also super important.

Workplace harassment isn’t just about headline-level scandals or dramatic HR showdowns. It’s often subtle. It’s in the side-eyes during meetings, the silence after speaking up, or the unfair ‘jokes’ that people brush off.

But here’s the thing — just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s okay. Or legal.

So in this article, we’re going to break it down.

• What exactly counts as Workplace harassment or workplace bullying? 
• What are the main types you should watch out for — including some you may have never thought about? 
• And most importantly, what can you actually do if it’s happening to you or someone around you? Also read: How to deal with Toxic work environment or toxic work culture?

Whether you’re an employee, a team leader, or just trying to understand your rights better — this is for you.”

“Let’s start with a basic but important question —

What is workplace harassment, really?

At its core, workplace harassment is any unwelcome behavior — verbal, physical, written, or visual — that creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment.

Sounds familiar, right? But in reality, it’s not always that simple.

Harassment can be obvious — like inappropriate touching or threats — but it can also be more subtle:

• Repeated comments about someone’s appearance 

• Constantly interrupting or talking over someone in meetings 

• Giving someone the silent treatment or isolating them from team activities 

And yep, it can happen in-person or online.

Quick note: I’m not a lawyer, so this isn’t legal advice. But we’re using common definitions based on real-world HR standards and employment law, so if you recognize anything from your own experience, it’s worth looking into.”

Let’s dive into the Main Topic— this is where the value of the article really comes in. We’ll go over seven main types of workplace harassment, each with:

• A clear, simple definition 
• A surprising or realistic example 
• A short reflection on the impact 
• A tip on what someone can do if it happens

7 Types of Workplace Harassment

1. Verbal Harassment

Let’s start with one of the most common — verbal harassment.

This includes any spoken words that are offensive, threatening, belittling, or inappropriate. But it’s not just shouting or using profanities. Sometimes, it’s sarcasm disguised as humor, constant criticism, or comments that target someone’s appearance, background, or work ethic in a demeaning way.

For Example: “You are always so sensitive,” or “Are you even qualified for this role?”

This type of harassment can be subtle, which is what makes it dangerous — people often brush it off as banter or personality differences. But over time, it wears down confidence and creates a toxic atmosphere.

According to a 2022 survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute, more than 60% of U.S. workers said they’ve either witnessed or been subjected to verbal abuse at work. That’s huge — and it tells us just how normalized this behavior can become if left unchecked.

Here are some more Verbal Harassments you might come across:

• Picture this, You’re in the break room, and a colleague walks in and loudly says, ‘Oh great, here comes the office bimbo. Try not to mess anything up today.’ And people just laugh uncomfortably. This happens multiple times a week.

• Here is another example: A manager regularly yells at you in front of the team, calling you ‘useless,’ ‘pathetic,’ or saying things like ‘How did someone like you even get hired?’ These aren’t critiques — they’re personal attacks, and they’re repeated.

• You’ve told someone multiple times to stop swearing at you, and yet, they continue to say things like, ‘You’re such a dumbass,’ or ‘You’re the weakest link in this whole department.’

These comments may be passed off as “just jokes,” but they’re targeted, dismissive, and create discomfort — especially when they’re repeated.

The longer they’re ignored, the more normalized they become — and that’s when they start chipping away at someone’s sense of belonging.”

People Also read: How to distance yourself from toxic coworkers? (10 Effective ways)

2. Physical Harassment

Now, physical harassment might sound straightforward, but it’s more than just physical assault.

This type of Harassment includes any unwanted physical contact — from overly aggressive gestures and touching to physically intimidating someone by invading their personal space without respecting others boundaries. It also includes throwing objects, blocking someone’s path, or slamming doors during heated moments.

For Example: A supervisor “jokingly” pokes your shoulder every time you disagree with them in meetings. Or a coworker repeatedly sits too close or corners you at your desk, despite your discomfort.

Even when it’s not violent, if the physical behavior is unwanted and makes someone feel unsafe or uncomfortable, it counts as harassment.

Here are few more scenarios:

• Imagine you’re in the break room, reaching for your coffee — and a coworker brushes up behind you a little too closely, every single day.

• Or a supervisor who finds reasons to touch your shoulder, pat your back, or stand way too close during one-on-one conversations — even when you’ve tried stepping away.

• There’s also physical intimidation — like someone slamming a door, throwing an object (even if not directed at you), or hovering behind you at your desk in a way that makes you feel watched.

These actions send a message — and that message is, “I don’t respect your boundaries.” Even if there’s no physical pain, it can be deeply violating.”

One important note: physical harassment doesn’t need to leave a mark to be serious. If someone’s body is being used to exert control, intimidation, or disrespect, it needs to be addressed.

3. Psychological or Emotional Harassment

This one is a bit less visible, but just as harmful: psychological or emotional harassment.

We’re talking about behaviors that undermine a person’s self-esteem, isolate them socially, or make them feel constantly anxious and on edge. It can include gaslighting, manipulation, silent treatment, or constant nitpicking that makes the target question their abilities.

For Example: Your boss praises everyone else’s work in meetings but always leaves your name out — even when you were the project lead. Or a colleague spreads subtle rumors about you to make others distrust you.

The damage here is long-term and internal. Emotional harassment doesn’t just ruin someone’s workday — it can deeply impact mental health and even lead to conditions like depression or burnout.

According to the American Psychological Association, chronic exposure to emotional harassment in the workplace is linked to reduced job satisfaction, increased absenteeism, and long-term anxiety disorders.

Let’s say this happens at work:

• Your manager gives you impossible deadlines, criticizes you for not meeting them, and then publicly praises someone else for the same work you’re doing.

• Or maybe they ‘forget’ to include you in important meetings, leave your name off email threads, and then blame you for being uninformed.

• There’s also gaslighting: You raise a concern, and they say, ‘You’re overreacting. No one else has a problem with it.’

These tactics may not leave visible marks, but they create constant self-doubt, anxiety, and burnout.

Psychological harassment often goes unnoticed by others — but for the person experiencing it, it can feel like slow, quiet erosion.”

4. Discriminatory Harassment

Now this one is often the most legally recognized: discriminatory harassment.

This includes harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or any protected characteristic. It can take many forms — verbal abuse, exclusion from opportunities, unfair treatment, or targeted jokes and stereotypes.

For Example: A Black employee is constantly asked to “speak for their community” in diversity meetings. A woman is interrupted or talked over in meetings, and her ideas are credited to someone else.

This type of harassment is not just inappropriate — it’s illegal under most workplace discrimination laws. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) receives tens of thousands of complaints related to race, sex, and disability discrimination every year.

But here’s the thing: not all discriminatory harassment is obvious. It can show up in microaggressions — small, repeated comments or behaviors that signal bias, even when they’re not overt.

Now picture this scenario:

• You’re the only Black woman on your team, and people constantly ask to touch your hair, comment on your tone, or say things like ‘You’re so articulate!’ — as if that’s surprising.

• Or maybe you wear a hijab, and a colleague ‘jokes’ about you being overly conservative, or makes an ignorant comment like, ‘Do they make you wear that?’

• Or you’re an older employee, and your boss keeps assigning all the tech-heavy tasks to younger staff — saying things like ‘We’ll save you the stress’ — which sounds polite, but is actually exclusion based on age.

Crucial to address: These comments and behaviors may seem small individually, but together they create an environment of “othering” — and it’s illegal under many workplace laws.”

5. Sexual Harassment

You probably saw this one coming — sexual harassment is one of the most talked-about, but still one of the most misunderstood.

It includes any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This can be explicit, like inappropriate comments about someone’s body or repeated requests for dates, or subtle, like suggestive jokes, inappropriate texts, or “accidental” touching.

For Example: A supervisor compliments your outfit in a way that feels uncomfortable. Or a colleague frequently sends you memes or images that cross the line.

Sexual harassment can also be quid pro quo, where job benefits are tied to sexual favors — which is highly illegal.

According to the National Women’s Law Center, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, though many incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation or being dismissed.

In some offices, people actually deal with things like:

• A coworker who frequently comments on your looks — ‘You look way too good to be working late,’ or ‘That dress is dangerous.’

• Or maybe they send you memes and messages that start off flirty, then slowly become more inappropriate — ‘If only I weren’t married…’

• Or worse — they keep inviting you out alone after work, even after you’ve politely declined several times.

• Then there’s non-verbal harassment — staring, suggestive gestures, or sharing explicit jokes in team chats.

Here is a Fact worth acknowledging: Sexual harassment doesn’t always look like an assault — but it always crosses a line, and it can make someone dread going to work.”

6. Retaliation Harassment

This one is sneaky, and often used to silence people: retaliation harassment.

It happens when someone faces negative consequences — like isolation, demotion, or criticism — after reporting misconduct, standing up for themselves, or supporting a coworker’s claim.

For Example: After reporting a colleague for inappropriate behavior, your boss suddenly excludes you from important projects, stops inviting you to meetings, or starts documenting “performance issues” that were never brought up before.

Retaliation is illegal under most labor laws, but that doesn’t stop some workplaces from trying to make whistleblowers pay the price.This type of harassment creates a chilling effect — people stop speaking up because they’re afraid of being punished, which allows the original toxic behavior to continue.

It can show up like this:

• You file a complaint about inappropriate comments made during a team lunch. The next week, your manager pulls you from a project you were leading and says it’s ‘just to reduce pressure.’

• Or after flagging a concern with HR, you start receiving lower performance scores without feedback. You’re excluded from brainstorm sessions, or left off client calls.

These aren’t just coincidences — they’re subtle punishments meant to discourage speaking up.

Retaliation is about power and silence. And if companies don’t step in, it sends the message that raising your voice comes at a cost.

7. Digital or Remote Harassment

As remote work becomes more common, so does a newer category: digital harassment.

This includes any form of harassment that happens through digital communication — emails, chats, Slack messages, Zoom calls, or social media. Just because it’s happening on a screen doesn’t make it any less serious.

For Example: A coworker sends you GIFs or memes with sexual innuendo, or you’re constantly left out of team chat threads, despite being part of the project. Or maybe someone micromanages you through constant surveillance on time-tracking software or video calls.

Remote harassment is often harder to prove, especially if it’s subtle or the tone is ambiguous. But it’s real, and it’s growing.

According to a 2021 survey by TalentLMS and The Purple Campaign, 38% of remote workers reported experiencing online harassment since working from home — a number that’s likely underreported.

Here’s a situation that crosses the line:

• You get Slack messages from a coworker late at night with things like ‘You up?’ or ‘We should hang out sometime — work is stressful, right?’

• Or maybe someone keeps tagging you unnecessarily in group chats to embarrass you or mock your responses.

• Some remote employees face excessive micromanagement — like being told to keep their camera on all day, or receiving rude messages when they step away for a break.

Here is a Fact to be noted: Harassment doesn’t stop just because you’re working from home. In fact, digital harassment often goes unrecorded because people are afraid to speak up — or unsure whether it “counts.” It does.”

There you go, So, is workplace harassment still legal? In short, no. It’s illegal in many forms, and employers have a responsibility to prevent and address it. But that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to spot, and it certainly doesn’t mean that it’s always stopped immediately. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of the types of harassment and bullying that can occur in a workplace — and to speak up when you see something wrong.

How to deal with harassment in the workplace?

Now that we’ve explored different types of types of harassment in the workplace, it’s important to talk about how to deal with workplace bullying if you’re experiencing it or witnessing it happening to someone else. Navigating these situations can feel overwhelming, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and create a safer work environment for everyone.

1. Document Everything 📑

The first thing you need to do when facing harassment is document every incident. Even if the behavior seems small or subtle, it’s essential to keep a record. This helps build your case if you need to escalate the issue.

For example: If a colleague continuously makes inappropriate comments or a manager undermines you in meetings, take note of the date, time, and exactly what was said. Also, include any responses or actions taken (or not taken) in response.

2. Speak Up – When You’re Ready 🗣️

If you feel comfortable, the next step is to speak up. This doesn’t mean you need to confront the person immediately — sometimes, it’s better to address the issue through the proper channels. But don’t be afraid to express that their behavior is unwelcome. You can do this in a calm, professional way.

For example: You could say, “I’d prefer if we didn’t make comments about my personal appearance during meetings. It feels uncomfortable.” Or, “I noticed that I was left out of the meeting again. Could you let me know why?”

It’s always best to keep things professional, but don’t let yourself be silenced.

3. Report It to HR or Management 🏢

If you’ve spoken up and the behavior continues, or if you don’t feel comfortable addressing it directly, escalate the situation by reporting it to HR or management. Companies are legally required to investigate harassment claims, and doing so can help ensure that there is a record of your concerns.

For example: If you’re facing ongoing verbal harassment or discrimination, file a formal report. HR should initiate an investigation and take action — and if they don’t, this could become a legal matter.

4. Know Your Legal Rights ⚖️

Familiarize yourself with the laws regarding workplace harassment in your area. In the U.S., for example, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces laws that prohibit harassment in the workplace based on factors like race, gender, age, religion, and disability. Understanding your rights is crucial if the situation escalates.

For example: If your employer doesn’t address your harassment claim, you may have the right to file a formal charge with an organization like the EEOC.

5. Support Your Colleagues 🤝

If you see harassment happening to someone else, speak up. This is a great way to foster a safer, more supportive workplace. Sometimes the person experiencing harassment might be afraid to report it, but your intervention could make all the difference.

For example: If you witness a manager bullying a colleague, you can step in by saying, “I noticed that the way you spoke to Jane earlier wasn’t respectful. I’m sure you didn’t mean it, but it came across that way.” This can open the door for a constructive conversation.

Sometimes, it can feel like you’re powerless against systemic issues like harassment. But remember, collective action from everyone in the workplace can make a huge difference. If you and your colleagues are aware of the signs of harassment and take proactive steps to stop it, you can foster a more inclusive, supportive environment for all.

Here  a few Key Takeaways:

• Harassment comes in many forms: verbal, physical, psychological, sexual, discriminatory, bullying, hazardous work environments, job insecurity threats, and more. 
• Document everything and speak up when it’s safe to do so. 
• HR is there to help, but know that legal options are available if needed. 
• If you see something, say something. Support your colleagues and take action to create a safer space for everyone. 

We all deserve to work in environments where we feel respected, valued, and safe. So, take a stand and be the change you want to see in the workplace.

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If you’ve experienced or witnessed harassment at work, share your thoughts in the comments below. You’re not alone — and speaking out can be the first step toward real change.

And remember, take care of yourselves, speak up, and let’s make our workspaces better for everyone. Stay tuned for more content on navigating professional challenges!