Jarrod is known as a jokester and is always telling stories and teasing his co-workers. Jarrod sometimes makes jokes of a sexual nature, especially jokes making fun of women. Jarrod is well-liked and no one has told him to stop. Beth, a new employee, is shocked by what she hears and feels very uncomfortable.
Is Jarrod’s behaviour okay?
Could this be sexual harassment?
Whenever Angelo comes in the lunchroom, everyone stops talking and soon find reasons to cut their breaks short and leave. Lately, it seems to Angelo that his co-workers go out of their way not to help him and refuse to answer his questions about work tasks. Lately, whenever he leaves the work area and then comes back some of the equipment he needs to use has gone missing. Angelo feels alone and doesn’t know what is going on.
Could this be an example of bullying?
Alanni is upset because she has been asked to attend a meeting to discuss her attendance at work. She sees that others miss a lot of time, and wonders if her manager is singling her out. Alanni feels that her manager is harassing her.
Is this harassment?
Elias, who identifies as transgender, has overheard comments and jokes between his co-workers during lunch and break times about transgender people — calling them names, and laughing about gender-inclusive washrooms. No one has said anything to Elias directly and he is not sure if his co-workers are aware of his gender identity. Elias feels hurt and humiliated.
Is this harassment?
Marius has been told by his supervisor that he has to work twice as hard to prove himself because the patients don’t think he is qualified. Marius is African, having moved from Kenya 10 years ago. He is a registered nurse and has met all the education and training requirements for his position. Some of his co-workers have also made comments to him and about him which make him question whether he has really been accepted as part of the team and seen as qualified and capable by his supervisor and co-workers.
Could this be discrimination?