Harassment is defined as which of the following?

• A. The act of harassing, or state of being harassed
• B. A feeling of intense annoyance, anxiety or worry caused by being tormented
• C. A policy guideline for workplace conduct
• D. A safety violation in the workplace

Answer: (A)

Harassment includes both the actions that constitute harassment and the experience of being harassed. This broad view is why the definition fits best: it covers not only what someone does to another person but also how that person is affected by those actions. It’s more accurate than descriptions focused only on feelings, or on separate concepts like policy guidelines or safety violations, which don’t itself define harassment. For example, repeated unwanted comments, threats, or other coercive behavior are harassing acts, and the impact—feeling targeted, intimidated, or unsafe—is the state of being harassed.