Harassment

The Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 and the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibit various types of harassment in the workplace.

Harassment is generally defined as any unwelcome severe or pervasive verbal, visual, or physical conduct that creates a hostile work environment.  Examples of harassment may include racial slurs, name calling, offensive jokes, insults, the display of offensive pictures or items, bullying behavior, and acts of intimidation.  A single instance of harassment may not be enough to substantiate a claim.  Rather, a clear pattern of continuing harassment must be shown.

Employees who experience harassment may wish to keep notes of occurrences, and to lodge complaints with their employers.  Because employers are expected to take steps to prevent harassment from occurring, once a complaint is lodged, employers should investigate the complaint and take reasonable steps to stop the alleged harassing behavior.  Employees may file claims of harassment with either the EEOC or the Florida Commission on Human Relations.