In the year 2023, you would hope that instances of sexual harassment in the workplace would have finally eased off.
And yet, a new survey from the Trade Union Congress has found that almost three in five women (58%) have experienced harassment at work.
In early May 2023, the organisation and other campaigners wrote an open letter warning the government not to abandon essential legislation on workplace sexual harassment – following speculation that ministers will allow the Worker Protection Bill to fall following objections from Conservative backbenchers.
Do we care more about trauma or the performance of trauma?
Sexual harassment isn't always easy to pinpoint and can take many forms – whether it's a comment or a physical action, it can be equally as damaging.
A lot of the time, the problem originates from relaxed attitudes towards sexual "jokes" in the workplace, leading to victims' hesitation to report inappropriate behaviour due to the fear of not being taken seriously.
"How many times do we still hear that sexual harassment in the workplace is just a bit of 'banter'?" Frances O'Grady, the General Secretary of the TUC, says. "Let's be clear – sexual harassment is undermining, humiliating and can have a huge effect on mental health. Victims are often left feeling ashamed and frightened. It has no place in a modern workplace, or in wider society."
According to a 2020 government survey of sexual harassment, 29% of those surveyed reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment in their workplace or work-related environment in the last 12 months.
And it is no doubt that the issue is predominantly – but by no means completely – gendered. Almost two thirds (63%) of those who experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the previous 12 months reported that the perpetrator was a man. Further to that, 81% of the women surveyed reported being harassed by a man.
In the joint letter to government, statistics also found that numbers are higher for LGBTQIA+, disabled, and Black women – but these figures are likely just the tip of the iceberg as 79% of women do not report their experiences.
I said #MeToo. He sued. But I won.
Zoe, 22, talks to GLAMOUR about the time she stood up for herself after being a victim of sexual harassment at work: "One day my supervisor – who was known for being disgustingly sexist – asked me to show him my hand.
“When I held it out, he said ‘Yes, my cock would fit in that.’ I was so shocked. I reported him to our company director, who immediately interviewed me and every female who had been harassed. We were taken seriously and the sexist supervisor was dismissed by the end of the day.”
What can be done?
There are many factors at play when it comes to tackling sexual harassment in the workplace. Gary Wedderburn – an advisor for ACAS, an organisation working to improve our working lives through better employee relations – has recommended ways in which businesses and companies can best do this.
First up is a clear definition of the problem. “Employers should take steps such as explain what sexual harassment is, what types of behaviours are unacceptable, encourage and support staff to report any incidents and be clear on how a reported incident will be investigated,” he says. "All staff should also be trained to recognise sexual harassment.”
He also recommends making anonymous reporting of sexual harassment possible, as well as anonymous surveys so that staff can report if they've experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, as well as if they reported it or not and why. This way, workplaces will have the data needed to do better.
The allegations against Chris Noth show that #MeToo is far from over.
Of course, the way in which workplaces are managed is key to stamping out sexual harassment. Wedderburn recommends including the reporting of sexual harassment cases in a managers' performance objectives. He insists managers should report “if they see it, or deal with it if they're trained to”. Further to that, management should also be keeping a record of sexual harassment complaints to watch for any patterns of unwanted behaviour.
If you have been (or are being) sexually harassed and feel comfortable reporting your case, it is important to come forward if you feel safe to.
If you feel you can't report it, or want more information or need advice on how to protect yourself, please visit tuc.org.uk.
