Energy harassment is when a superior exhibits discriminatory or abusive behavior towards an employee, creating an unsafe work environment. Sexual harassment is a common form of power harassment, and victims should report the behavior to human resources or consult with an attorney.
Energy harassment occurs when someone in a work environment experiences some sort of discriminatory or abusive behavior from a superior. This type of behavior often goes far beyond the typical employer-employee relationship into much more damaging territory. If it is indeed prevalent in a work environment, those who suffer from it may have legal recourse if the harassment is serious enough. A specific type of workplace harassment is sexual harassment, which occurs when an employee experiences unwanted comments or actions of a sexual nature.
The workplace is an environment that, in an ideal situation, should be welcoming to everyone. Unfortunately, there are situations where employees are treated in a way that far exceeds the bounds of what is fair between a boss and his workers. Someone in a position of power should never be allowed to exercise power in an overbearing or discriminatory way. This can create an unhappy and unsafe work environment not only for those being harassed but for the entire workforce.
Of course, any kind of physical force exerted by a boss against his subordinates should not be tolerated. An even more subtle form of power harassment is psychological abuse, which can occur when an employer makes unwarranted verbal threats or demeaning remarks toward an employee. Such abuse can take a toll on an employee over time, especially if he or she feels like a target.
Sexual harassment has been a common form of power harassment since both genders shared a common work environment, but the problem has evolved over time to include complexities that make trying to prevent such behavior more difficult. The traditional office power relationship between a male boss and his secretary has always been a problem area in terms of sexual harassment. In modern offices, homosexual employees may also be subjected to harassment if their sexual orientation is a source of ridicule from their superiors.
When an employee feels that power harassment has occurred, they must bring the problem to light for action to be taken. Employees are often afraid of losing their jobs in the process, so they stay silent. The employee can take the matter to the human resources department where she works. Aside from that, employees may need to consult with an attorney to see if they have grounds for a lawsuit if the behavior in question is particularly blatant.
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