Final answer:
Harassment becomes a "Class C" Felony when it involves severe harassment, potentially including physical violence or threats. This is particularly significant in cases of workplace harassment, where employers are legally obligated to prevent and address such conduct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Harassment becomes a "Class C" Felony at the point when it involves certain severe forms of harassment. Typically, a Class C Felony is a crime that carries significant penalties, potentially including substantial fines or prison time of up to 10 years. The exact threshold when harassment escalates to this level of offense can be determined by specific state laws or federal legislation.
It is important to note that harassment does not have to be sexual in nature; it can also be related to other protected classes like race, national origin, religion, or age. However, sexual harassment is often the most clearly defined and legislatively addressed form. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances or conduct that adversely affects a person's employment status, impairs job performance, or creates a hostile or intimidating work environment.
In the context of Violence in the Workplace, harassment that leads to physical harm or threats of serious physical harm may qualify as a higher class felony. Employers are responsible for maintaining a harassment-free workplace, and failure to do so, especially in cases where harassment escalates to physical violence, could lead to severe legal consequences.