An employee looks away from a coworker who is uncomfortable with being massaged on the shoulders by another employee.

Become an

Active Bystander

Before we move on to the next set of case studies, we encourage you to become an active bystander whenever you witness acts of harassment or discrimination. When you witness an act that is harmful to someone else (such as derogatory joke-telling or sexual advances), don’t just passively observe the incident, or walk away. If you’re comfortable, take positive actions to help stop the behavior.

When you stay silent, look the other way, say “It’s none of my business,” or think “someone else will deal with it,” your silence may actually be supporting the hurtful behavior.