Despite strict laws prohibiting it in the workplace, the U.S. Department of Labor found that 88% of women in the construction industry have experienced sexual harassment on the job. This is 63% more than the number of women sexually harassed in general in the United States.
Sexual harassment doesn’t just affect women: in 2013, 17.6% of all sexual harassment charges were filed by men.
What is the Impact of Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment can have a huge impact on a company. The following may be a result of sexual harassment in the workplace:
- Damaged employee psychological health
- Damaged employee physical health
- Increased employee absenteeism
- Lower employee job satisfaction
- High employee turn-over rate
- Reduced employee participation
- Reduced employee productivity
- Legal risks and costs
- Decreased morale
What to do if you are a Target of Sexual Harassment?
-
Address the behavior
Tell the person involved to stop in a clear and concise manner. Be specific.
-
Put it in writing
Document each instance of sexual harassment. Be sure to include details about the occurrence, in addition to the date, time, and any witnesses.
-
Talk to Your Supervisor
Tell your Supervisor about the inappropriate behavior.
-
File a Complaint
If speaking with your Supervisor did not stop the sexual harassment, contact your local authority, such as the Canadian Human Rights Commission, or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Further Resources
UNITED STATES
Sexual Harassment Policy
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
HG Legal Resources
CANADA
Ontario Human Rights Commission
The Criminal Code of Canada
Government of Canada
Comments are closed.