You’re not powerless if you’ve felt uncomfortable around a co-worker and there are steps you can take in response to inappropriate conduct or unwanted attention.

Unwanted attention is behaviour you consider unwelcome that is severe and pervasive enough to make you feel like you’re in a hostile work environment, including:

• Repeated and unwanted communication via phone, email, social media etc
• Commenting on your physical appearance or abilities
• Unwanted touching of any kind, including an arm around your shoulder or a pat on your back
• Targeted and repeated jokes that are offensive in nature
• Repeatedly asking you out on a date when you’ve already said no
• Leaving or sending you unwanted gifts

Set ground rules, tell a perpetrator their behaviour is unwanted and must stop, and document dates, times, comments and witnesses to any incident where something seems off.

If you feel you can’t approach them, or if the inappropriate behaviour continues, file a report with your supervisor or human resources department because if it continues it’s considered harassment.

Harassment shouldn’t affect anyone’s employment and a responsible employer will stop harassment in its tracks and give workers a safe workplace, but there are instances where they don’t take action.

If your employer fails to act don’t feel you have to ignore it or quit, contact HACSU and we’ll help you assert your rights and make sure your issue is dealt with correctly not swept under the carpet.

Because unwanted attention is subjective and can be confusing document incidents that make you uncomfortable and speak to your supervisor or higher-up when unwanted attention becomes a problem that affects your work environment.

HACSU is here to support you and will always stand up to stamp out this type of behaviour.