Are you aware of the hidden figures behind workplace harassment?
Did you think going to unfamiliar people and places is the reason behind increasing harassment cases?
No. it’s not! Because Harassment in Workplace Statistics states the opposite. Even showing up at work can lead to harassment.
44% of employees have admitted to experiencing harassment at work.
70% of women who are victims of harassment in the workplace do not report the incident.
Ready to confront the facts and foster change! Let’s dive into eve-opening harassment in workplace statistics!
Top Harassment Statistics: Editor’s Pick
- 81% of women and 43% of men have suffered harassment at least once in their lifetime. [1]
- Rural workers are 40% more likely to experience sexual harassment than suburban workers. [6]
- 23% of female victims said that their harasser influenced their job. [14]
- 24% of people agreed that harassment in remote work is worse, giving rise to cyber crimes. [15]
- 95% of women reported that male harassers go unpunished. [20]
- 56% of men report that workplace harassment goes unpunished. [20]
- 98% of harassed women experience at least one incident of retaliation. [10]
- 1 in 7 women and 1 in 17 men are looking for a new job due to sexual harassment. [24]
- On average harassment costs $1,053 per victim. [23]
Types of Harassment in the Workplace
81% of women and 43% of men have suffered harassment at least once in their lifetime. [1]
Shocking to know, right?! And most of them have been harassed in their workplaces, which are supposed to be safe places for them.
What kind of harassment is usually faced by people in the workplace?
According to the #MeToo Study, men and women in the workplace face the following types of harassment and assault. [1]
| Type of Harassment | Percentage of Women who suffered | Percentage of Men who suffered |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal sexual harassment | 76% | 35% |
| Unwelcome sexual touch | 49% | 18% |
| Cyber sexual harassment | 40% | 21% |
| Being physically followed | 27% | 11% |
| Unwanted genital flashing | 30% | 12% |
| Sexual assault | 23% | 9% |
16% of people admitted to being unable to pinpoint a specific reason behind this illegal behavior at work. [3]
32% of employees didn’t know that jokes could be entitled as mischief. [4]
Harassment in Workplace Statistics Based on Demographics
44% of employees have admitted to experiencing harassment at work. [4]
Who are these people?
Is there any category/race that is more likely to suffer at the workplace than others?
Harassment in Workplace Statistics Based on Gender
- 38% of female workers and 7% of males claim to have been harassed at work. [5]
- 8% of women have been harassed by a junior employee, 27% were harassed by a senior, 19% of women were harassed by a coworker at their level, and 51% claimed that they were harassed by a supervisor. [6]
- 62% of men claim to have been harassed by women, while 97% of women claim that the harasser was a man. [5]
- 62% of women didn’t take any action against their harasser. [7]
- 57% of men were harassed by another man. [7]
- 68% of the LGBTQ population experience harassment in the workplace. [8]
- Two-thirds of the LGBTQ community never report harassment. [8]
Harassment in Workplace Statistics Based on Location
It is assumed that harassment is more common in urban workplaces. Statistics said otherwise.
Rural workplaces have reported more harassment incidences.
26% of those in rural areas, compared to 21% in urban and 18% in suburban areas have been sexually harassed at work. [6]
Rural workers are 40% more likely to experience sexual harassment than suburban workers. [6]
Harassment in Workplace Statistics Based on Industry and Job Role
Wondering if your industry is likely to have harassment cases?
Most probably yes! Every industry has some level of harassment cases.
In 2018, the media had the most harassment incidents, including both genders, 41% of females and 22% of males. [11]
From 2005 to 2015, 14% of harassment cases were reported in “Accommodation and food services.” It is interesting to note that the harassment percentage here is higher than the total employment rates in the industry. [9]
71% of female employees in restaurants admit to being harassed at least once in their careers. [10]
15% of female educators and 6% of male educators are victims of harassment. [12]
58% of nurses admitted they were easy targets of patients and 19% blamed the patient’s family and friends. [13]
23% of female victims said that their harasser influenced their job. [14]
How has the Pandemic Affected the Situation?
Unlike popular opinion, Covid did not stop harassment in the workplace, it just shifted the platform.
23% of women reported that online harassment has increased during the pandemic. [15]
45% of women reported experiencing remote harassment through emails, social media, video conferencing, and phone calls. [15]
24% of people agreed that harassment in remote work is worse, giving rise to cyber crimes. [15]
Reporting Harassment in Workplace
How many harassment cases were reported?
70% of women who are victims of harassment in the workplace do not report the incident. [16]
85% of employees are aware of how and where to report an issue. [18]
67% of employers go to their managers to report such issues, while 37% go to their HR. [17]
6% report incidents via hotlines. [17]
87% to 94% of US employees don’t file complaints against harassment. [19]
95% of women reported that male harassers go unpunished. [20]
56% of men report that workplace harassment goes unpunished. [20]
It was noted that men (only 17%) are less likely than females (29%) to make reports in the nursing profession. [13]
Harassed women employees do not report the issue because they are afraid of retaliation. 98% of harassed women experience at least one incident of retaliation. [10]
Action Against Harassment
- 53% of victims reported that their employers immediately addressed their issues. [26]
- 12% of victims claimed that their workplace took no action against harassment.
- 14.7% of victims are not sure if any serious action was taken.
- 54% of respondents admitted that their issues were fully resolved by their workplace.
- 34% of victims left their jobs due to unresolved issues.
Reasons Behind Not Reporting Harassment
Of those who experienced harassment, what are the top reasons for not reporting the incident?
- 24.1% feared retaliation from the harasser. They were scared that they might lose their job, get demoted, subject to gossip and shaming. [26]
- 21.4% said that they did not think reporting would solve their problem, they feared that nobody would believe them due to the harasser’s reputation.
- 18.6% thought it was not a big deal to have reported.
- 11.7% have already seen that the past reports were ill-treated, so they remain silent.
- 13.1% were not sure if it was their place to report the issue.
Out of all the people surveyed, 27.74% confirmed their employer does not want them to report harassment. [26]
Recursions and Cost of Harassment
Harassment hugely impacts victims’ mental health along with physical health. And if they decide to quit the job, their financial health suffers too.
About 16% of women reported that harassment in the workplace resulted in negative effects on their mental health. [21]
16% of women left their jobs due to the harassment. [21]
31% of women and 20% of men experience anxiety or depression after suffering from harassment in the workplace. [22]
Workplace sexual harassment leads to the loss of $2.6 billion in productivity. [23]
On average harassment costs $1,053 per victim. [23]
1 in 7 women and 1 in 17 men are looking for a new job due to sexual harassment. [24]
Employee turnover due to harassment costs a company 16-20% of an employee’s annual salary. [25]
Here we have reviewed the cost of harassment in the workplace in 2018 in the US:
| Component | Total Cost (in million $) | Cost per person ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Productivity | 2,622.2 | 1,053 |
| Absenteeism | 741.8 | 297 |
| Turnover | 830.6 | 336 |
| Manager Time | 623.4 | 250 |
| Government justice system | 158.4 | 63 |
| Deadweight losses | 423.5 | 170 |
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FAQs
What are the signs of harassment?
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, verbal or physical harassment, offensive messages or gestures, offensive remarks, stalking, cyber harassment, and unwelcome touch account for harassment.
How to report workplace harassment?
Workplace harassment can be easily reported by discussing with managers, supervisors, or HRs. Complaints can be easily filed with governmental agencies, such as the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or any other relevant state agencies.
Do US companies have a sexual harassment policy?
Yes. 98% of US businesses have a formal sexual harassment policy.
What is sex harassment in the workplace reported statistics?
According to the report by EEOC, they received 12,429 claims of sexual harassment in 2017. And the data revolves around this number every year.
Conclusion
Harassment in the workplace has always been a major concern, especially among women. And covid has introduced us to its new format with remote harassment over social media platforms, emails, and messages. Cybercrimes in the workplace have increased.
Harassment negatively impacts the mental, physical, and financial health of victims. 31% of women and 20% of men admitted to experiencing anxiety or depression after suffering from harassment in the workplace.
70% of employees who suffer harassment in the workplace do not report the issue because they fear retaliation. They suffer in silence due to fear of losing jobs and reputations.
Sources
- Stopstreet Harassment. 81% of women and 43% of men
- What to Become. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Statistics — What You Need to Know
- Npr.org. 16% of people didn’t know
- Science Leadership. Didn’t know that jokes could qualify
- Inc. 54% of Women Report Workplace Harassment. How Is Your Company Responding?
- I-sight.com. Harassment by a senior or a figure of authority
- Whattobecome. twice the risk of becoming a victim
- Goremotely. TUC in 2019 showed that 68% of LGBTQ
- American progress. Not just the Rich and Famous
- One Fair Wage. The tipping point
- Marker Medium. The Shocking Data Behind Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Workplace
- Science Leadership Academy. Facing sexual assault
- Nursing Times. Survey reveals majority of nurses have experienced sexual harassment
- Inc. 54% of women report workplace harassment
- Rights of Women. Online sexual harassment has increased
- Urbanic & Associates. 4 shocking statistics about harassment
- Urbanic & Associates
- HR Acuity
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Job and Health Outcomes of Sexual Harassment and How Women Respond to Sexual Harassment
- TUC. Sexual harassment of LGBTQ
- NPR. A New Survey Finds 81 Percent Of Women Have Experienced Sexual Harassment
- Deloitte. The economic costs of sexual harassment in the workplace
- NSVRC. Ending assault and harassment
- Center for American Progress. Cost of Turnover
- AllVoices. The-state-of-workplace-harassment-2021
Manisha is a digital writer providing guidance in career development and growth. She facilitates skill development and implementation of the right strategies for advancement. At Jobera, She documents content around the latest market trend analysis, insights, and career planning.