Harassment is unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. It may violate a person’s dignity or create an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
Harassment can be intentional or unintentional, and may be carried out by an individual or a group. The impact of the behaviour and how it is experienced by the person affected are important.
There is no definitive list of behaviours that may amount to harassment. Examples may include:
- unwanted physical conduct or ‘horseplay’, including touching, pinching, pushing, grabbing, brushing past someone, invading their personal space
- physical misconduct. For more information go to our Physical and/or Verbal Misconduct page.
- sexual misconduct. For more information go to our Sexual Misconduct page.
- offensive comments, 'jokes' or 'banter'
- threats or intimidation
- mocking, mimicking or belittling someone
- derogatory remarks or behaviour related to a person’s protected characteristic. For more information go to Hate Incidents and Discrimination page.
- exclusion, ignoring or shunning someone, for example, by deliberately excluding them from a conversation or social activity.
A person may be harassed even if they were not the intended target.
In deciding whether behaviour amounts to harassment, the recipient’s perception is important. The circumstances of the behaviour, including whether it was reasonable for the behaviour to have that effect, may also be considered.
Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour. It can include an abuse or misuse of power that undermines, humiliates, belittles, or harms another person.
Power does not always come from a position of authority. It can also involve personal strength or using fear and intimidation to control someone.
Bullying can be physical, verbal or non-verbal, including behaviour on social media.
Bullying may include but is not limited to:
- abuse of power or authority
- verbal, written or physical intimidation such as threats or derogatory remarks
- persistent unjustified criticism
- public humiliation
- the setting of impossible deadlines or intolerable workload burdens
- having responsibilities or decision-making powers withdrawn without good reason or explanation
- excluding someone without good reason
- obvious behaviour such as shouting, threats, physical intimidation, personal or offensive remarks, inappropriate physical contact
- hidden, or less obvious behaviour such as innuendo, deliberately leaving someone out, or asking intrusive questions about someone's personal circumstances
- verbal misconduct
- offensive material or communications shared in person, online or through any other medium.
Vigorous speech and comment, academic debate, and legitimate management of the performance of staff or students can be distinguished from bullying behaviour. However, these should always be conducted respectfully and without making others feel intimidated.
More information can be found on University EDI policy and Expect Respect at Kent.
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I think I have experienced harassment or bullying.
I think someone I know has experienced harassment or bullying.