Bullying is unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct that may intentionally or unintentionally violate a person’s dignity or create an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment that interferes with an individual’s learning, working or social environment.
Harassment is “unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual” (Equality Act 2010).
This behaviour or treatment may relate to a person’s gender, disability, gender reassignment or gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, age or any other protected characteristic.
Harassment may consist of persistent behaviour, although one single act may be considered sufficiently serious to warrant formal or informal reporting.