What does sexual harassment look like?
Recognise sexual harassment in the workplace. Explore examples of harassing behaviours to understand what constitutes misconduct and affects worker safety.
Sex and gender
Factsheet
August, 2022
Summary
Workplace sexual harassment includes a wide range of different behaviours. Find examples of sexually harassing behaviours.
What does sexual harassment look like?
Sex and gender
Factsheet
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Workplace sexual harassment includes a wide range of different behaviours. Some examples of sexually harassing behaviours include:
- inappropriate physical contact
- intrusive questions about a person's private life or physical appearance
- sharing or threatening to share intimate images or video without consent
- images or videos that are sexually suggestive or that constitute a sexual advance
- unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing
- repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates
- sexually suggestive comments or jokes that offend or intimidate
- requests or pressure for sex or other sexual acts
- sexually explicit gifts, images, videos, cartoons, drawings, photographs, or jokes.
- actual or attempted rape or sexual assault
- being followed or watched inappropriately, or someone loitering inappropriately, either in person or via technology
- sexually explicit comments made in person or in writing, or indecent messages (SMS, social media), phone calls or emails—including the use of emojis with sexual connotations
- sexual gestures, indecent exposure or inappropriate display of the body
- technology-facilitated unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature—including on virtual meetings
- inappropriate staring or leering
- repeated or inappropriate advances on email or other online social technologies.