Harassment or not ?

I don't think it constitutes harassment - unless he persists after you have told him to back off, or if he continues to actively encourage you to seek alternative employment. You can always complain but there's no law per se against one person expressing his/her feelings for another. If it continues to be uncomfortable for you, however, I'd certainly have a chat with your HR people so that at least it's on the record. Good luck.

I'm glad you don't work in my company. If you can't handle your interpersonal relationships with other colleagues, if you were in my company I would suggest you leave, too.

1. He has feelings about you. Instead of changing his own behaviour he finds it more convenient for you to "disappear".

2. Inform your HR department - the head preferably.

2. Document everything.

3. Make sure you are not alone with him. If he wants to discuss it, have a witness, e.g. HR person.

4. Let him know you are not leaving.

5. Your boss may not want to know about - nor care about - the intrapersonal relationships of colleagues. Some bosses resent this and would suggest the parties sort it out themselves. You have to decide whether such a move would reflect badly on you, as it easily could. If your boss finds out about from HR, let him/her that you were handling it and it was not important enough to trouble him/her. Obvious you know your boss best, so pick the best approach. One ex-colleague of mine went griping to her boss about a colleague... unfortunately the colleague was "boss's pet" and it was suggested that she was the problem and that she should leave.

6. If it's an MNC, consider an internal transfer.

7. Make sure the person doesn't have your mobile/home phone number, address, etc. The problem may extend to beyond the office.

What is your company's harrassment policy? Diff companies will have diff practices.


What I can share is from an American MNC, who have guidelines and case studies for employees to understand harrassment, which is a wide subject.

With ref to the above company's guidelines, yours is considered under a harrassment which will be investigated - "unreciprocated feeling " leading to subtle message to apply for a new job ( he gave you a headhunter's contact)

The process -Employee file in a case, HR and dept mgr will investigate, leading to documented interviews with complainant, harrasser and witnesses.

At the end of the day, there may be no case as harrasser may deny and if you do not have any witness. The harrasser will be informed that he cannot retaliate or take "revenge" because of this investigation. If he has a direct impact to your performance, then the company will review who should be transfered.