What is sexual harassment?

[ch 1: page 5]

“If a person’s behaviour is unwanted and is of a sexual nature, then it is sexual harassment,” the NASUWT teaching union’s online advice on tackling sexual harassment makes clear. “It does not matter whether other colleagues in your workplace find the person’s behaviour acceptable or whether the incident is a one-off or repeated behaviour. If it makes you feel intimidated, uncomfortable or degraded, then it is harassment.”

Sexual harassment can take many forms, as the union explains. It can include:

• sexual comments or jokes;

• suggestive looks, staring or leering;

• propositions and sexual advances;

• intrusive comments about a person’s private or sex life;

• unwelcome touching,

• sending sexually explicit emails, text messages or social media posts; and

• sexual assault, stalking and indecent exposure.

Chapter 2 sets out the legal definitions of the different types of sexual harassment in more detail.