Sometimes, things can get uncomfortable or awkward at work. But to cross the line into illegal harassment, there needs to be something more: what the law calls "severe or pervasive" negative conduct or behavior.
In a recent case from eastern Pennsylvania, a federal district court ruled that a supervisor's whisper into a subordinate's ear, though uncomfortable, did not rise to the level of illegal harassment.
The lesson for human resources pros: Though we all strive to cultivate a work environment where everyone feels comfortable all the time, employers are not on the legal hook for isolated awkward moments or petty slights that don't rise to the level of harassment.
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