A small group of employees are engaged in conversation.

The Gray Areas (Cont’d)

If there's any doubt about your conduct, or someone else's, it's best to just listen to your instincts and put a stop to it right away. That doesn't mean you can't be funny, polite, or outgoing at work, it just means you need to be careful not to create a hostile work environment for others. And remember, saying "I was only joking" is no excuse for potentially harassing behavior.

To illustrate what we’ve discussed, let's take a look at some case studies to see how you would classify the conduct.