Thanks for bringing this up.

I’m not a lawyer, but as a consultant I work with companies to convert cultures of hostility, abuse and bullying into cultures with better attitudes and behavior. Of course, teasing is part of the problem.

My rule of thumb: Harassment is in the eyes of the teased, the butt of the jokes and the bullied person. If you’ve been the butt and don’t like it, your standards rule. Good companies, with “High Attitudes,” don’t allow such behavior. In addition to the personal effects of teasing, bullying, verbal abuse and emotional intimidation, there’s a tremendous cost to companies if they allow “Low Attitudes.”

There are many legal ways good leaders can convert or rid their companies of such bad actors. If you’re the butt of such behavior, do something about. Confront it, go through channels and if your company won’t establish high standards of behavior, take your talents, skills and productivity to a better company.

Best wishes,
Ben