Harassment in the workplace is traumatic and hard to measure, so talking about harassment in the workplace is a challenge for anyone, in any language. Whether you are an HR professional handling complaints, you’ve had a complaint filed against you, or you’ve been a victim of physical, sexual or psychological workplace harassment, this post will help you learn the words you need for talking about harassment in the workplace in English.

As a language and confidence coach, I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to work with clients who have needed support around using this vocabulary — either to put their own stories into words, or to effectively interact with individuals involved in cases they may be handling in cross-cultural work settings.

If you are a non-native speaker who needs additional support in how to discuss (or speak up!) about workplace harassment in English, I’d be honored to help you. Schedule a trial lesson today, and let’s talk about it.

Why Talking About Harassment in the Workplace is so Hard

A global survey by the International Labor Organization released in 2022 found that almost 23 per cent of employed people have experienced violence and harassment at work, whether physical, sexual or psychological. Worldwide, only half of victims said they had shared their experiences of harassment in the workplace with someone else.

Fear, embarrassment, intimidation, organizational culture and personal reputation issues can make it very delicate and difficult to speak about harassment. Moreover, experiencing or being accused of harassment usually triggers very intense emotions, which further contribute to the difficulties anyone will have in speaking clearly about the situation. Yet another part of what makes it hard to talk about harassment, is simply knowing the words to describe what has happened.

I’ve developed this post to help those of you who need it get the conversation started. Below are 90 useful terms for talking about harassment in the workplace, organized as follows:

• Basic Words for Talking About Harassment in the Workplace
• Reporting and Complaint Process Terms
• Words Specific to Sexual Harassment
• Words Specific to Physical Harassment
• Words Specific to Psychological Harassment
• Words for Describing the Outcomes of Workplace Harassment Cases
• Terms for Workplace Support and Advocacy
• Legal and Procedural Terms
• Helpful Phrases for Talking about Workplace Harassment

Basic Words for Talking About Harassment in the Workplace

1. Behavior (noun): The way someone acts.
2. Misconduct (noun): Unacceptable or improper behavior.
3. Harassment (noun): Unwanted behavior causing discomfort.
4. Incident (noun): An event or occurrence.
5. Escalation (noun): An increase in the seriousness of a situation.
6. Altercation (noun): A physical confrontation or fight between individuals, often resulting from conflict or disagreement.
7. Perpetrator (noun): A person who commits an illegal or immoral act.
8. Victim (noun): A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.
9. Policy (noun): A course of action adopted by an organization.
10. Report (verb): To inform authorities about an issue.

Reporting and Complaint Process Terms

1. Complaint (noun): A formal expression of dissatisfaction.
2. Complainant (noun): A person who makes a formal complaint, typically about harassment.
3. Confidentiality (noun): The protection of sensitive information shared during a harassment investigation.
4. Grievance (noun): A real or imagined wrong, or other cause for complaint.
5. Incident Report (noun): A formal document detailing an incident of harassment or violence.
6. Corroboration (noun): Supporting evidence or testimony that confirms the truthfulness of a claim.
7. Witness (noun): A person who sees an event take place.
8. Whistleblower (noun): A person who reports on a person’s or organization’s misconduct.
9. Investigator: A person specifically designated to look into harassment complaints.
10. Review Board: A panel that reviews and evaluates harassment complaints to determine appropriate action.

Words Specific to Physical Harassment in the Workplace

1. Physical Assault (noun): The intentional use of force or violence against another person, resulting in bodily harm or injury.
2. Battery (noun): Unlawful physical contact with another person without their consent, often resulting in injury.
3. Physical Intimidation (noun): The use of physical size, gestures, or actions to instill fear or coerce another person.
4. Property Damage (noun): The intentional destruction or defacement of someone else’s property.
5. Blocking or Restraining (noun): Physically preventing or restricting someone’s movement or access to a space.
6. Threatening Gestures (noun): Non-verbal actions or movements intended to intimidate or coerce someone, such as raising a fist or making aggressive gestures.
7. Hostile (adjective): Unfriendly or antagonistic.
8. Physical Aggression (noun): Hostile or violent behavior intended to harm or intimidate another person physically.
9. Excessive Force (noun): The use of unnecessary or disproportionate physical power or violence against someone.
10. Self-Defense (noun): The legal right to use reasonable force to protect oneself from harm.

Words Specific to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

1. Sexual Harassment (noun): Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
2. Sexual Misconduct (noun): Inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature, which may or may not rise to the level of harassment.
3. Innuendo (noun): An indirect or subtle reference, typically suggesting something inappropriate or sexual in nature.
4. Unwelcome Advances (noun): Unwanted or unsolicited gestures, propositions, or behaviors of a sexual nature.
5. Touching (noun): Physical contact.
6. Inappropriate (adjective): Not suitable or proper in the context
7. Uncomfortable (adjective): Feeling uneasy or awkward.
8. Sexual Coercion (noun): The use of pressure or force to obtain sexual activity against a person’s will.
9. Quid Pro Quo (noun): A form of sexual harassment in which submission to or rejection of sexual behavior is used as a basis for employment decisions (e.g., promotion, salary increase).
10. Gender-based Harassment (noun): Harassment directed at an individual because of their gender, including but not limited to sexual harassment.

Words Specific to Psychological Harassment in the Workplace

1. Discrimination (noun): Unfair treatment of different categories of people.
2. Bullying (noun): Persistent aggressive behavior, including physical acts, threats, and intimidation, directed at another person.
3. Verbal Abuse (noun): The use of words to belittle, demean, or intimidate another person.
4. Emotional Abuse (noun): Behavior that harms someone’s emotional well-being, such as constant criticism, threats, or manipulation.
5. Intimidation (noun): Behavior intended to make someone feel afraid or inferior, often through threats or aggressive gestures.
6. Gaslighting (noun): A form of psychological manipulation that seeks to make someone doubt their own perceptions, memories, or sanity.
7. Humiliation (noun): The act of making someone feel ashamed, embarrassed, or degraded, often in front of others.
8. Scapegoating (noun): Blaming or targeting someone unfairly for problems or mistakes, often as a form of psychological harassment.
9. Micromanagement (noun): Excessive or obsessive control over someone’s work or actions, often causing stress and anxiety.
10. Ostracism (noun): Exclusion or rejection from a group or community, often used as a form of psychological punishment.

Words for Describing the Outcomes of Workplace Harassment Cases

1. Resolution (noun): The act of solving a problem.
2. Retaliation (noun): Revenge or counteraction.
3. Abatement (noun): The ending, reduction, or lessening of something.
4. Vindication (noun): The fact of proving that what one said or did was right or true, after other people said or thought it was wrong.
5. Exoneration (noun): The act of officially absolving someone from blame.
6. Impunity (noun): Exemption from punishment or freedom from the consequences of an action.
7. Consequences (noun): The outcomes or effects that result from an action or event, often negative in nature.
8. Repercussions (noun): Unintended (direct or indirect) negative consequences of an event or action.
9. Trauma (noun): Emotional or psychological distress resulting from experiencing or witnessing harassment or violence.
10. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) (noun): A mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

Terms for Workplace Support and Advocacy

1. Due Process (noun): The fair treatment of individuals involved in a harassment investigation, including the right to be heard and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
2. Equity (noun): Fairness or justice in the way people are treated.
3. Mediator (noun): A neutral third party who helps to resolve a conflict by facilitating communication and negotiation between disputing parties.
4. Counseling and Support Services (noun): Resources and assistance provided to individuals who have experienced harassment or violence to help them cope and recover.
5. Victim Advocacy (noun): Support services provided to victims of harassment or violence, including legal assistance, counseling, and referrals to community resources.
6. Advocate (noun): A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause.
7. Proactive Measures (noun): Steps taken by organizations to prevent sexual harassment before it occurs, such as training, policy development, and culture-building initiatives.
8. Diversity and Inclusion (noun): Efforts to create a workplace culture that values and respects differences, including gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
9. Code of Conduct (noun): A set of guidelines outlining expected behavior for employees, including standards related to harassment.
10. Zero-Tolerance Policy (noun): A strict policy that prohibits all forms of harassment or violence in the workplace.

Legal and Procedural Terms

1. Allegation (noun): A claim that someone did something wrong, typically without proof.
2. Testify (verb): To give evidence in a legal case or formal investigation.
3. Violation (noun): The act of breaking a rule, policy, or law.
4. Jurisdiction (noun): The official power to make legal decisions and judgments.
5. Litigation (noun): The process of taking legal action.
6. Precedent (noun): An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
7. Restraining Order (noun): A court order prohibiting an individual from making contact with or coming near another person.
8. Criminal Charges (noun): Legal charges brought against an individual for committing physical assault, battery, or other violent acts.
9. Title VII (USA specific noun): A section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
10. EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) (USA specific noun): The federal agency responsible for enforcing laws against workplace discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Common Phrases for Talking about Workplace Harassment

1. Call out: To publicly criticize or confront someone about their inappropriate behavior.
   • “She decided to call out her colleague’s inappropriate comments during the meeting.”
2. Speak up/speak out: To express one’s opinion or concern about an issue, especially about injustice or inappropriate behavior.
   • “Employees are encouraged to speak up if they witness any form of harassment.”
   • “She finally decided to speak out about what had happened to her at work.”
3. Take action: To do something to solve a problem.
   • “HR needs to take action immediately to address this issue.”
4. File a complaint: To officially make a complaint.
   • “I need to file a complaint about the recent incidents of harassment.”
5. Safe work environment: A workplace that is free from harm or danger.
   • “It is essential to maintain a safe work environment for all employees.”
6. Raise an issue: To bring up a problem for discussion.
   • “I would like to raise an issue regarding the behavior of a colleague.”
7. Seek justice: To pursue a fair and just outcome.
   • “Victims of harassment should always seek justice for the wrongs done to them.”
8. Investigate the matter: To look into the details of a situation.
   • “The HR department will investigate the matter thoroughly.”
9. Report inappropriate behavior: To inform authorities about unacceptable actions.
   • “Employees are encouraged to report inappropriate behavior to their supervisors.”
10. Protect from retaliation: To ensure there are no negative consequences for reporting an issue.
    • “The company must protect employees from retaliation after they file a complaint.”

Need to Have a Conversation about Workplace Harassment?

I’m on your side. Issues related to harassment in the workplace can be very challenging to talk about. If you are experiencing workplace harassment of any kind, I sincerely hope the word list above is helpful for you.

It can also be helpful to talk to a neutral person, or a coach like me, who can help you sort through your thoughts in preparation for taking action to stop any workplace harassment you may be experiencing. If you’re needing to talk about workplace harassment as a non-native speaker in English, I’d love to listen and help you formulate what you need to say in a clear way.

Schedule a conversation with me on Italki.