By Amy McLaughlin-Woodforth, SHARP Workplaces
Technology can be used for efficient, effective communication and collaboration at work. However, when misused, it can enable sexual harassment in professional situations. In this blog, we provide some examples of how this can appear.
Harassment via workplace messaging apps
Work platforms like Zoom, MS Teams, Slack or WhatsApp, can be used to send harassing messages.
Examples of this type of digital workplace harassment can be:
- Unwanted sexual comments;
- Suggestive messages;
- Sexual jokes or “memes”;
- Inappropriate emojis;
- Nude photos;
- Repetitive requests for dates;
- Late-night communications (Example: A coworker sends a message that says “Thinking about you, are you awake?” at 1:00 AM).
Video-Call Comments
Video conferencing platforms have allowed us to communicate face to face while working from home. However, video meetings can also become a place for sexual harassment.
This could look like:
- Colleagues or management making unwanted sexual comments about your appearance.
- Taking screenshots of you without permission;
- Colleagues exposing themselves on camera.
Video calls should be a professional place for collaboration. No one has a right to make unwanted sexual comments on another person’s appearance.
Cyber-stalking
Cyber-stalking could occur if someone from work is:
- Monitoring your online activity;
- Leaving constant, unwanted likes or comments your social media posts;
- Creating fake profiles to follow or message you;
- Tracking your LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram obsessively.
This is not appropriate behaviour and is likely workplace sexual harassment.
Retaliation
If a coworker or manager has made a romantic advance toward you, which you rejected, you could experience retaliation through the use of workplace technology. The harasser could do this by excluding you from online meetings, spreading rumours about you via work group chats, or posting things about you online. This harmful activity can make the workplace an unsafe space and should not be tolerated.
Sexual harassment doesn’t just happen in-person at an office or worksite. You have the right to a safe workplace. This includes being treated respectfully on workplace apps, social media, and online.
If you’re going through this, you may want to document the online harassment. This is important if you are considering filing a complaint with your employer or pursuing a legal claim. See our blog on tips for documenting sexual harassment.
If you have been sexually harassed at work in British Columbia, please reach out to the SHARP Workplaces Legal Advice Clinic. We may be able to provide up to five (5) hours of free legal advice. We can be contacted via email at [email protected]. You can also call us at 604-673-3143 or toll-free at 1-888-685-6222.