Workplace Harassment in Colombia: How to Report It and What to Expect

Workplace harassment in Colombia is regulated by Law 1010 of 2006, which defines it as any persistent and provable conduct carried out against an employee by their employer or coworkers, aimed at intimidating, instilling fear, or causing harm to their employment.

What conduct counts as workplace harassment?

• Repeated verbal or physical mistreatment
• Workplace persecution: assigning impossible or degrading tasks
• Unjustified discrimination compared to other employees
• Deliberately obstructing someone's work
• Labor inequity: denying promotions or benefits without justification
• Failure to protect: exposing someone to risks without proper protective equipment

Step-by-step action plan

1. Document everything — Keep emails, messages, and witnesses. Evidence is essential.
2. File a complaint with the Workplace Conciliation Committee — Every company with more than 10 employees is required to have one. They have 2 months to resolve it.
3. If the Committee doesn't resolve it — File a complaint with the Ministry of Labor's Labor Inspector.
4. Criminal complaint — Workplace harassment is also a criminal offense (Article 210A of the Criminal Code).
5. Constitutional protection action (tutela) — If the harassment violates fundamental rights such as dignity or health.

Protective measures you can request

• Transfer to a different position or department
• Termination of the contract with just cause on the employee's side (resigning due to harassment entitles you to severance)
• Precautionary measures from the labor judge

Consequences for the harasser

• Fines between 2 and 10 times the minimum monthly wage
• Disqualification from holding public office for up to 6 months
• Disciplinary sanctions
• Criminal liability

Key points

The harassment must be persistent (not an isolated incident) and provable (you need evidence). If you believe you're a victim of workplace harassment, act as soon as possible — delay hurts your case.

Our labor law team can support you through the entire process, from the first complaint to the lawsuit.

El asistente jurídico digital de Jurídiconline analiza tu situación específica. La revisión inicial es gratuita.