How is harassment distinguished from a single incident, and what factors are assessed in repetitive patterns?

• A. Harassment typically requires repeated conduct or severe single acts; assess frequency, severity, intent, and impact.
• B. Harassment is any one negative comment.
• C. Harassment only concerns sexual remarks.
• D. Harassment is determined by the complainant's willingness.

Answer: (A)

Harassment is evaluated by looking at whether conduct repeats or constitutes a severely harmful one-time act, rather than treating a single remark as harassment. When assessing repetitive patterns, investigators examine how often the behavior occurred (frequency), how serious or harmful the acts were (severity), whether the harasser intended to cause harm (intent), and the effect on the target and the work environment (impact). This approach recognizes that a series of smaller, unwelcome acts can create a hostile environment, or that a single extreme act can be serious enough to qualify. Choices that reduce harassment to any one negative comment, limit it to sexual remarks, or rely on the complainant’s willingness do not fit the fuller, policy-driven understanding of harassment.