Horizontal vs. vertical harassment: when the enemy is your coworker - workplace harassment

The workplace harassment is an unfortunate reality that affects millions of people worldwide. It manifests in various forms, with horizontal harassment and vertical harassment being two of the most common. While both share the characteristic of creating a hostile work environment, their dynamics and consequences differ significantly. Understanding these differences is essential to identify, prevent and effectively combat these forms of mistreatment.

What is Workplace Harassment? A Clear Definition

Before delving into the types of harassment, it is important to clearly define what we mean by workplace harassment. It refers to a series of negative and hostile behaviors, repeated and prolonged over time, directed at a worker or a group of workers by one or more colleagues, superiors or subordinates. These behaviors aim to humiliate, discredit, intimidate or marginalize the victim, affecting their physical and mental health, and hindering their job performance.

Horizontal Harassment: Betrayal among Colleagues

Definition and Characteristics of Horizontal Harassment

The horizontal harassment, also known as mobbing among peers, occurs when the harasser and the victim are at a similar hierarchical level within the organization. It does not involve a direct abuse of hierarchical power, but is based on dynamics of envy, rivalry, resentment or simply the search for a scapegoat.

The main characteristics of the horizontal harassment include:

• Repeated and systematic hostile behaviors.
• Social isolation of the victim.
• Rumors and slander.
• Constant criticism and devaluation of work.
• Boycotting tasks and projects.
• Public or private humiliations.

Concrete Examples of Horizontal Harassment

To better illustrate the horizontal harassment, let's consider some examples:

• A group of coworkers who systematically exclude a colleague from social and work activities.
• The spreading of false rumors about a worker's personal or professional life.
• Constant criticism and devaluation of a coworker's work, even when it is of good quality.
• Boycotting a colleague's projects by refusing to collaborate or providing incorrect information.
• Creating a hostile work environment through practical jokes, insults or derogatory comments.

Vertical Harassment: The Abuse of Hierarchical Power

Definition and Characteristics of Vertical Harassment

The vertical harassment, also known as bossing or power harassment, occurs when the harasser holds a hierarchical position superior to that of the victim. It involves an abuse of power by the superior, who uses their authority to intimidate, manipulate or humiliate the subordinate.

The main characteristics of the vertical harassment include:

• Assigning impossible tasks.
• Unjustified excessive workload.
• Unfair and disproportionate criticism.
• Explicit or implicit threats of dismissal.
• Work and social isolation.
• Public or private humiliations.
• Manipulation of information and decisions.

Concrete Examples of Vertical Harassment

Let's look at some concrete examples of vertical harassment:

• A boss who constantly assigns impossible tasks to an employee, knowing that they will fail.
• Unjustified overloading of work on a subordinate, preventing them from balancing their personal and professional life.
• Unfair and disproportionate criticism of an employee's work, even when they meet expectations.
• Explicit or implicit threats of dismissal to a subordinate, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
• Work and social isolation of an employee by their boss, preventing them from participating in important meetings or accessing relevant information.
• Public or private humiliation of a subordinate in front of their colleagues.
• Manipulation of information and decisions to harm an employee.

Key Differences between Horizontal and Vertical Harassment: A Comparative Table

To better understand the differences between the horizontal harassment and the vertical harassment, we present the following comparative table:

How to Prevent and Combat Workplace Harassment? Effective Strategies

The prevention and combating of workplace harassment are the responsibility of both the company and the employees. Here are some effective strategies:

• Implement clear policies against workplace harassment: The company must establish a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment that clearly defines what is considered harassment, how to report it, and what consequences it will have.
• Promote a culture of respect and collaboration: Foster a work environment where mutual respect, open communication and collaboration are valued.
• Provide training on workplace harassment: Train employees to recognize signs of harassment and know how to act if they are victims or witnesses.
• Establish confidential reporting channels: Create a safe and confidential reporting system where victims can report harassment without fear of retaliation.
• Investigate complaints thoroughly: Take all harassment complaints seriously and investigate thoroughly to determine whether the events occurred.
• Sanction the harassers: Apply sanctions proportionate to the severity of the harassment, which may include anything from a warning to dismissal.
• Provide support to victims: Offer psychological and legal support to victims of workplace harassment.