I first learned that I was protected from workplace sexual harassment when I went to work at United Parcel Service (UPS) in 1988. By then, I had worked at the State Fair, as a babysitter, in three fast-food restaurants, retail stores in two malls, and briefly in the kitchen of a family restaurant. I quit the kitchen job because the talk among my co-workers was not exactly family friendly. Young and naive, I thought sexual harassment and hostile work environments were just something I would have to deal with.
After my promotion to operations management at UPS, I was trained in sexual harassment prevention. It seemed more important and relevant because I was responsible for preventing it. I always had been, even if I didn’t realize it. In this post, we’ll review why workplace sexual harassment is a hot topic and how you can contribute to prevention efforts.
Progress Made in Sexual Harassment Prevention
When I excitedly shared with my mom what I was learning in the UPS management training program, she opened up about a boss who sexually harassed her. He brazenly engaged in quid pro quo sexual harassment, knowing she was struggling financially after she and my dad divorced. Offering her an opportunity for “additional earnings,” he directly asked her for sexual favors. She said progress has been made in preventing workplace sexual harassment, but it still occurs. It is often more covert, which means you might have to look harder to determine whether it is happening in your business.
Sexual Harassment Culture
Armed with my UPS training and knowledge of my mom’s experiences, I began to look more closely at my own experiences and those of my friends:
- Supervisors openly discussing which employees were sexually desirable
- Jokes about girls with daddy issues being easier to coerce into sex
- Display of sexual images in work and break areas
- Dress codes enforced differently based on gender stereotypes
- Perquisites (perks) and opportunities offered inequitably
The Impact of Workplace Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment has negative impact on workplaces generally. It deteriorates employee morale, and it reduces productivity. It’s an unnecessary distraction, even when it doesn’t end up in litigation. Employees usually know when it’s going on, and they are watching closely to see whether you address it. When you don’t, your loyal workers feel less protected and less loyal. They no longer trust you as much to follow rules, which can lead some of them to believe they need not follow rules, either.
Bit by bit, the fabric of positive and productive work culture begins to unravel, and as workplace cultures unravel, so do our families, our social circles, our communities, and our world.
The Impact on Individuals
My sexual harassment experiences seem minor in comparison to what I’ve seen as a lawyer. Although men and non-binary individuals are also subjected to workplace sexual harassment, it is still more common for women.
Women are still targets of quid pro quo harassment. Some have been victims of repeated sexual assault and rape by the very supervisors responsible for protecting them. When the victims reported the crimes to their employers, they were re-victimized through retaliation. They either put up with increased hostility and constructive termination until they quit, or they were fired. In the interim, many suffered from:
- Sleep problems
- Neck pain
- Diminished self-esteem
- Depression
The Impact on Families
Regardless of how sexual harassment targets leave their hostile work environments, their professional development and long-term earning potential is typically damaged beyond repair. This is especially concerning because they are often supporting their families financially.
According to one 2018 study, 42% of working women in the United States who have children are also the sole breadwinners for their families. They also carry out two and a half times the unpaid domestic work throughout the world. Arguably, a woman being sexually harassed at work is likely to transfer everything from sleep problems, neck pain, diminished self-esteem, and depression to financial insecurity and resignation to the people around them.
The Impact on Society
Workplace sexual harassment is a global community problem that we must all join in solving. In 2018, it cost the world an estimated $2.6 billion in productivity and $900 million in other expenses. This is especially problematic in industries where the majority of workers are women. Migrant women are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment at work, further traumatizing them and their children.
Conclusion
The impact of workplace sexual harassment is real and far-reaching. It influences everything from criminal behavior in the children of victims to the economic stability of businesses and communities. When you prevent it in your workplace, you:
- Increase diversity, which has proven to increase profits and productivity
- Assist gender and pay equity, which helps families and communities thrive
- Foster a global culture of inclusion and mutual respect, which can reduce the frequency of deadly conflicts
Need to investigate a sexual harassment complaint?
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