More than half (52%) of women, and nearly two-thirds (63%) of women aged 18-24 years old, say they have experienced sexual harassment at work, according to figures released by the TUC this week.
The survey, Still just a bit of banter?, which is part of a joint report with the Everyday Sexism Project, also found that around four out of five (79%) women who said they experienced sexual harassment at work did not tell their employer about what was happening.
Of this group, some thought reporting it would impact negatively on their relationships at work (28%) or on their career prospects (15%), while others were too embarrassed to talk about it (20%) or felt they would not be believed or taken seriously (24%). TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, says: “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.”
The TUC is calling on the government to adopt a series of measures including: abolishing employment tribunal fees to give more people access to justice; reinstating provisions in the Equality Act which placed a duty on employers to protect workers from third party harassment; giving employment tribunals the power to make wider recommendations; and extending the full range of statutory employment rights to all workers.
The report, follows the publication of a Women at the Bar report, published by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) last month, which showed that many women were reluctant to report unfair treatment. The BSB is reviewing its enforcement procedures and supervisory approach to ensure that women are encouraged to report unfair treatment, including harassment and discrimination, without fearing that this could limit their careers.
