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Sexual harassment in the workplace

Journalist: Newspage News Desk

ended 18. September 2023

Almost one in three female surgeons working in the NHS have been sexually assaulted in the last five years, according to a new survey.

 The survey found 29% of women who responded had experienced unwanted physical advances at work, more than 40% the subject of uninvited comments about their body, and 38% had experienced sexual banter at work.

Almost 90% of women said they had witnessed sexual misconduct in the past five years, with 81% of men giving the same answer.

More broadly, a 2023 survey by CIPD People Management readers found around 50% of 314 HR professionals responded that last five years there had been no difference or a greater level of sexual harassment in their organisations.

 

  • In the last five years do you think sexual harassment in the workplace, has decreased, increased or remained the same?
  • What has happened to the #metoo movement? Has progress stalled?
  • What support can employers and employees provide?
  • What are the underlying issues? Is it systemic within organisations, and if so, what can be done?

 

6 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Kate Underwood
Managing Director / HR Director at Kate Underwood HR and Training
It seems like this issue is really deep-seated and quite systemic within many organisations. It's not just about a few bad apples, but sometimes the entire barrel needs a good cleaning, you know what I mean? To tackle this, I think organizations need to look inward and maybe even overhaul their cultures in some cases.
Creating a culture that does not tolerate harassment at any level and encourages open dialogue could be a start. And hey, why not bring in experts to help guide the way? Sometimes an outside perspective can provide the fresh eyes needed to identify and fix issues.
It's all about working together to create a space where everyone can thrive without fear of harassment.
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Debbie Porter
Managing Director at Destination Digital Marketing
Sexual harassment in the workplace is as old as the hills. It's not increasing, it's not decreasing... it just 'is'. If there are more reports of sexual harassment then it means that women feel more empowered and more encouraged to report cases, which is a positive trend. What a hollow positive trend that is though.

Campaigns such as #metoo get snuffed out by the ridicule of people accusing women of jumping on a bandwagon for attention. Every woman has a story, or knows someone with a story, and for people who haven't walked in the shoes of a sexually harassed or attacked person, this fact alone can often be thought of as incredible. Addressing the cause of sexual harassment is a societal systemic problem to stamp out which includes business leaders playing their part in removing these parts of their company culture with a zero-tolerance approach.
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Amey Hellen
Digital Marketing Executive at Think3
Sexual harassment isn't necessarily increasing or decreasing; rather, it's gaining visibility as people become more empowered to report it. The #MeToo movement raised awareness and held individuals accountable, though its initial momentum has slowed in the press. Employers must implement anti-harassment policies, training, and a respectful culture with clear reporting mechanisms, ensuring victims feel supported. Employees can aid by promoting open communication, reporting incidents, and supporting colleagues. To combat systemic issues, organisations should promote diversity, educate employees on harassment, establish independent reporting channels, and encourage a culture of reporting without fear of retaliation.
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Adam Myers
Head Of HR Consulting at Stellamar
We regularly deal with a great deal of sexual harassment complaints from employees, and in the past few years, they have increased. People quite rightly accept less, and are influenced by the constant media around it over the last few years.
More organisations need to address the 'elephant in the room' and face facts that as much as they may have brilliantly worded policies, or believe their culture to be harassment free, that isn't the reality.

Generationally we are very mixed at the moment, with boomers, Gen X, Millenials and Gen Z all occupying the workplace. Systemically Boomers and Gen X are used to a workplace where people 'put up and shut up', but Millenials and Gen Z are different and are more confident in quite rightly calling toxicity out.

Leaders and managers urgently need to upskill and organisations need to step up to the plate and offer better education and awareness training, especially in industries we know have always had issues like this.
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Dr Julie Scanlon
Director at Julie Scanlon Consultancy Ltd
Workplaces are a microcosm of society and theses statistics echo the broader context of stubbornly consistent levels of male violence against women and girls, including sexual violence. Workplaces need robust policies that enable them to take a zero tolerance approach to harassment of any kind. We are far from reaching equality when there is not basic safety in a workplace.
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Sarah Loates
Director at Loates HR Consultancy
Many chickens are coming home to roost, the allegations against Russell Brand a prime example. There will be many people who knew and were in a position to take action but, for whatever reason, chose not to. The court of the public will judge their actions (or lack of) in the context of the 21st century.

As a Gen X, early in my career, I was subject to sexual harassment and physical assault in the workplace. In my naivety, I assumed this was just what the world of work was like.

Individuals subjected to sexual harassment are far more confident to have their voices heard and call out unacceptable behaviour. Woe betide the employer who turns a blind eye; they must turn into it and face such behaviour down.