Workplace harassment is a violation of human rights and a key concern in the shipping industry, since being onboard a ship gives limited alternative to avoid it. It can have many forms, verbal, physical, sexual and emotional and it does not discriminate.
No matter the form of harassment, all are illegal, and affect the crew’s productivity, comfort and safety at work.
Workplace harassment break down
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that harassment includes: “offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance”. Additionally, the harasser can be a supervisor, an agent, a co-worker ore even, a non-employee, while the victim is not only the person being harassed but anyone that is affected by the offensive behaviour.
So many people coming forward in the last years have shown us that many women and men have endured harassment in silence. Either because they do not know how to handle it, or because they fear the harasser, they need help and support to deal with it, especially in the working environment.
The Gender Diversity Booklet for Shipping mentions that in case of harassment the seafarer has to inform the Master, Chief Engineer, or a helpline for guidance and support. If that is not possible another independent person you can approach, like the company’s personnel officer.
It is, also, important to let the shore management know of all incidents onboard and have a designated person in shore that seafarers can contact. Everyone has the right to work free from violence and harassment and in a safer, decent working environment and the responsibility falls on shipping companies and seafarers’ organizations to eliminate workplace harassment on board.
Understand and recognize harassment
A safe working environment also needs well-planned and consistently practiced policies within the company. Seafarers have to be informed about the policies and the strategy that the company follows in these incidents in order to know what are the steps they need to follow in case something like it ever happens to them or someone close to them.
If you believe you are being harassed, key things to consider are the following:
- Do not ignore it.
- Get familiar with your company’s manuals and harassment policies.
- Don’t quit your job. This will not help with your complaint and it will have an adverse effect on your income.
- Do not retaliate. Retaliation is illegal and can even result to action against you.
- Do your job well even after you have filed a complaint.
- Get professional legal advice from someone who is familiar with Harassment Law.
Types of harassment
As mentioned, harassment at work can take various forms, and knowing them can help you recognize when it is happening to you or a co-worker.
#1 Verbal harassment consists of negative criticism, offensive and demeaning remarks such as insults and slurs. As a non-physical form of violence it is very difficult to be recognized.
#2 Psychological harassment is a form of vexatious behaviour that involves repeated hostile and unwanted words, behaviour, or actions that are painful, hurtful, annoying, humiliating or insulting. It can mean withholding information or gaslighting that can result to a mental break down.
#3 Digital harassment or cyberbullying, though online, should be taken seriously. The ubiquity of internet-connected devices has made digital harassment through posting threats or degrading comments so much easier. Good news is that this is the easiest form of harassment to report since it is documented and can easily be proved.
#4 Physical harassment, like unwanted gestures and touching or violence and damaged property. It is really hard to prove sometimes and can be downplayed.
#5 Sexual harassment is way common and a profound offence. It includes sexual messages, gestures and jokes or inappropriate touching and can be masked like mild teasing. Victims are often afraid to speak up because of retaliation, like job loss and prefer keeping it to themselves.
Effects of harassment in seafarers can be:
- Stress
- Lack of motivation
- Poor work performance
- Absence
- Increased resignations
What about reporting it
Reporting an incident of that nature whether you experienced it or someone else did is crucial and can help other people to come forward as well. When reporting an incident, the seafarer can be accompanied by another seafarer of their choice and will be asked to make a formal complaint.
After that, an investigation will start in order to determine whether the victim says the truth and what action needs to be taken. In case the allegations are true then the victim and the harasser need to be separated except when the victim asks to be transferred to another ship. Important steps to follow when reporting a harassment incident include:
- Try and resolve the situation with the perpetrator and explain the way you are feeling.
- If the above fails, talk about the issue with the designated person onboard ship. Try and have documented evidence of the harassment to support your case.
- If all fails contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission which will investigate the situation impartially.
