Age Refers to age over 40.
 
Ancestry Includes birthplace, culture, linguistic characteristics common to a specific ethnic group.
 
Borderline Conduct Includes behavior that is not harassment, but which can quickly evolve into a harassment situation.
 
Color refers to race or ethnicity.
 
Confidentiality Requiring that a subject not be disclosed to third parties.
 
Physical Disability Having any physiological disease, disorder, condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss that affects a body system and limits a person's ability to participate in major life activities.
 
Mental Disability Includes any mental or psychological disorder such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.
 
Environmental Harassment workplace harassment that includes conduct from co-workers, temporary workers, vendors, clients, or other persons regularly at the worksite.
 
Gender Because of a person's sex as either male or female.
 
Harassment Harassment is visual, verbal or physical conduct that is unwelcome and which is so severe and/or frequent, it negatively alters the conditions of the workplace.
 
Investigation Occurs when a trained investigator responds to an employee's complaint of harassment, by conducting witness interviews and preparing a report evaluating the evidence that supports or fails to support the claim.
 
Hostile Environment Consists of verbal, visual or physical conduct based on a protected background where the conduct is unwelcome and is sufficiently frequent and/or severe that it negatively alters the conditions of the job.
 
Liable or Liability When a person is responsible for a legal violation, and as a result, is responsible for paying money to a claimant.
 
Medical Condition Refers to a disease or medical disorder and can include genetic and/or chromosome disorders. Medical condition also includes having recovered from a disease and/or medical disorder.
 
National Origin Includes birthplace, ancestry, culture, linguistic characteristics common to a specific ethnic group.
 
Pregnancy Status Includes pregnancy, childbirth or related condition, or because of a perception that the woman is pregnant or has a related medical condition.
 
Marital Status An individual's state of marriage, non-marriage, divorce, separation, widowhood, annulment or any other marital status.
 
Negative Job Action Any action such as a termination, demotion, transfer, increased workload, increased criticism, etc.
 
Protected Backgrounds Are personal characteristics, which do not relate to job performance and therefore, are protected by law. These personal characteristics cannot provide a basis for a negative job action such as termination or demotion.
 
Quid Pro Quo When job benefits are conditioned on the granting or withholding of sexual or romantic favors.
 
Race Includes color and/or ethnicity.
 
Religion Includes any traditionally recognized religion as well as beliefs, observances, or practices which a person sincerely holds and which has a place of importance similar to that of traditionally recognized religions.
 
Retaliation Occurs when a person engages in a lawful activity, such as complaining of harassment or cooperating in a harassment investigation, and experiences a negative job action as a direct result of their lawful activity.
 
Same Sex Harassment Occurs when the conduct is motivated by a person's sex even though the victim and perpetrator are of the same sex. The conduct need not be motivated by sexual desire.
 
Sexual Harassment Harassment that is based on someone's sex, or that is sexual in nature.
 
Sexual Orientation Refers to a person's sexual preference such as heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality.
 
Welcomeness The degree to which the victim encouraged, solicited, engaged in, or tolerated the offensive conduct.