Harassment is unwanted, unwelcome, offensive conduct based on a protected class that makes it difficult for an employee to do their job. Using racial slurs or making racial jokes are examples of protected class harassment.
Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment due to a person’s sex or gender. Sexual harassment does not have to be of a sexual nature, however, and can include offensive remarks about a person’s sex. For example, harassment can occur by making offensive comments about women in general. Both victim and the harasser can be either a woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be the same sex.
Protected class harassment does not include unwanted, unwelcome, or offensive conduct that is not based on a protected class. The EEO Office cannot assist with issues that do not involve a protected class. For instance, if you feel you were not promoted because you and your supervisor simply do not like each other for reasons unrelated to any protected class, this would not be a situation that would fall under the EEO Policy. Similarly, if an employee is rude to everyone – including you – this likely isn’t EEO related. You should contact your departmental HR office and/or your union representative to discuss your non-EEO concerns.
