Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct

Bullying

Bulling is repeated inappropriate behaviour, direct or indirect, whether verbal, physical or otherwise, conducted by one or more persons against another or others, at the place of work/ study and/ or in the course of employment or study, which could reasonably be regarded as undermining the individual’s right to dignity and respect.

An isolated incident of the behaviour described in this definition may be an affront to dignity but, as a once off incident, is not considered to be bullying.

Read more about Bullying in the Dignity & Respect Policy.

Harassment

Harassment is any form of unwanted conduct related to any of the discriminatory grounds of equality, being conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

The nine discriminatory groups of equality are Gender, Civil Status, Family Status, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Age, Disability, Race and Membership of the Traveller Community. Such unwanted conduct may consist of acts, requests, spoken words, gestures or the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or other materials.

Read more about Harassment in the Dignity & Respect Policy.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is defined as any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for the person.

Sexual harassment is defined under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 – 2015.

Read more about Sexual Harassment in the Sexual Misconduct Policy.  

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual misconduct covers a broad range of inappropriate and unwanted behaviours of a sexual nature including sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Sexual misconduct can be committed by a person of any gender and it can occur between people of the same or different genders. It is often gender targeted and perpetuated to demean, diminish, and intimate.

Sexual misconduct may occur between strangers or acquaintances, including people involved, or formerly involved, in an intimate or sexual relationship.

Read more about Sexual Misconduct in the Sexual Misconduct Policy.