How to deal with harassment in the remote workplace

Workplace harassment is not always face to face. It can occur over the telephone, by email or on social media – all of which are increasingly relevant as more people are working remotely during the coronavirus crisis.

What steps can employers take to minimise inappropriate behaviour, harassment in the remote workplace, in the new working environment created by COVID-19?

Blake Morgan employment law solicitor Menna Chmielewski examines the issue in an article first published in People Management on 1 June.

What is harassment?

• harassment related to a protected characteristic;
• sexual harassment; and
• less favourable treatment of a worker because they submit to, or reject, sexual harassment or harassment related to sex or gender reassignment.

COVID-19 related harassment

There have been reported incidents of racial harassment linked to COVID-19, directed at Chinese and other ethnicities. To combat this, employers should reiterate that they take a zero-tolerance approach to harassment in the ‘workplace’ – which is still applicable even when people are working remotely.

Read the harassment in the remote workplace article in full here.