Harassment is unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. This includes harassment by association or perception. It also includes treating someone less favourably because they have submitted or refused to submit to such behaviour in the past.
Unlawful harassment may involve Sexual Misconduct, Hate Incident/Crime, Discrimination, or be related to a protected characteristic. These are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion (including faith, belief, or lack of), sex, and sexual orientation. At the University of Greenwich, we believe harassment is unacceptable even if it does not fall within any of these categories (for instance, if someone was harassed due to their appearance or body type).
Harassment may include, for example:
- Unwanted physical conduct, including touching, pinching, pushing, grabbing, brushing past someone, invading their personal space and more serious forms of physical or sexual assault;
- Offensive or intimidating comments or gestures, or insensitive jokes or pranks;
- Mocking, mimicking or belittling a person’s disability;
- Racist, sexist, homophobic or ageist jokes, or derogatory or stereotypical remarks about a particular ethnic or religious group or gender;
- Outing or threatening to out someone as LGBTQ+;
- Ignoring or shunning someone, for example, by deliberately excluding them from a conversation or a social activity.
A person may be harassed even if they were not the intended "target". For example, a person may be harassed by racist jokes about a different ethnic group if they create an offensive environment.
Harassment is contrary to the Equality Act 2010 and the staff Prevention of Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and the Student Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
If you are unsure of whether you or someone you know is experiencing Harassment, you can contact the Report + Support Team by completing a Speak to an Advisor form.
What support is available if I have experienced Harassment? (Students)
What support is available if I have experienced Harassment? (Staff)