A Third of Women at Work Face Sexual Harassment, According to Recent Findings

Prospect, one of the UK’s largest trade unions for professionals, reported in their recent survey that a third of women have experienced sexual harassment in their place of work. The study hoped to uncover the amount of times employees had witnessed or were personally affected by this type of unwelcomed behaviour. The data found that women who endured sexual harassment in the workplace were too intimidated to report such misconduct to their colleagues, confirming that these issues are still commonplace in the UK workforce today.

Almost 7,000 people completed the survey - 40% of whom were female, and 60% of whom were male. The responses came from individuals who worked in various industries, including aviation, defence, energy, archaeology and heritage, the civil service and broadcasting. 

The data illustrated the types of inappropriate behaviour the female respondents were exposed to on a daily basis:

• subject to suggestive remarks or jokes of a sexual nature (27%);
• endured unwanted comments about their appearance (25%);
• experienced unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature (17%); and,
• experienced unwanted and inappropriate touching, hugging or kissing (14%). 

One woman, for example, explained how a male manager would frequently make inappropriate comments as well as hug and kiss female colleagues whenever a team meeting was held. Other respondents who had reported sexual harassment were made to feel as though they were to blame, with some losing their job as a result. The evidence in the Prospect survey highlights how distressing and upsetting such behaviour in the workplace can be to both men and women.

Prospect general secretary, Mike Clancy, commented that the “findings of this survey demonstrate that sexual harassment is endemic and takes place in all parts of the economy.” It is therefore vital that should you endure sexual harassment in the workplace – whether it be in the form of unwanted propositions or inappropriate jokes – you must get in contact with a professional employment solicitor as soon as possible.

Contact Our Sexual Harassment Lawyers Hertfordshire & London, UK

If you have experienced sexual harassment at work, then contact our specialist employment lawyers today. Here at Lloyd Donnelly, we deal with hundreds of sexual discrimination cases each year and can, therefore, provide first-class and expert legal representation. Do not delay, call one of our solicitors on 02082077358 or contact us via our online enquiry form.