Harassment is behavior intended to disturb or upset. In the employment context, this can be of a sexual nature or other behavior that causes for a hostile work environment.

Hostile environment sexual harassment refers to a situation where employees in a workplace are subject to a pattern of exposure to unwanted sexual behavior from other employees. A company is liable for such harassment if supervisors or managers take no steps to discourage or discontinue such behavior.

A hostile work environment exists when an employee experiences workplace harassment and fears going to work because of the offensive, intimidating, or oppressive atmosphere generated by a harasser.