Comprehensive Protections

Many states and local governments have statutes or codes that protect against a slew of different forms of discriminatory, and therefore harassing, behaviors.

Examples: The statutes of the District of Columbia prohibit discrimination, including the creation of a hostile work environment, on the bases of "marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, or political affiliation."

Specific Examples of What Can Constitute Harassment

• In a case of religious harassment, a state court has found that it was harassing for an employer to place Christian-themed messages and Bible verses on paychecks given to employees.

• Repeated, and unwanted, preaching by coworkers on religious matters can potentially constitute harassment.

• Hanging a picture of a political leader or activist, or photograph of an ethic disturbance or conflict that reflects negatively upon people of that nation, can constitute national-origin harassment.

Using racial epithets to describe a set of people can constitute racial harassment, even if the epithets are not directed at a particular individual. For example, the use of the word "Japs" to refer to Japanese competitors of a company, even if not directed toward a particular individual, can constitute racial harassment.