Conclusion of Brainstorming Session

REASON 1 - WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND GIVE A SOLUTION TO THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY?

1. Ensuring that all employees feel safe at work and are treated with dignity and respect.

2. Complying with the civil right act and other laws addressing sexual harassment.

3. Having a culture that acknowledges that discrimination and sexual harassment are wrong and can have harmful effects on a workplace environment.

4. Women are the most common, but not only the target for sexual harassment.

5. Harassment comes in 2 basic varieties which are gender-based sexual harassment and sex-focused sexual harassment.

6. Sexual Harassment is often driven by narratives, myths, and norms about women, men and workers.

7. The narrow legal definition doesn't capture the full range of experiences of sexual harassment.

8. Avoid the legal and financial liability, as well as the negative publicity, that can result from sexual harassment claims.

REASON 2 - WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION IF THESE ISSUES ARE NEVER SOLVED?

1. The negative consequences of harassment can be long-lasting and severe.

2. Victims of sexual harassment often suffer emotional and psychological harm, including stress, depression, and anxiety. They often experience decreased confidence and self-esteem. Physical health problems may arise such as loss of sleep and appetite, weight fluctuations, nausea, and headaches.

3. Sexual Harassment can also wreak havoc on a victim's job performance and career trajectory. Fear and decreased confidence can cause some people to withdraw from the workplace and disengage from co-workers. They are more likely to be tardy, absent, distracted, and neglect duties. If victims of sexual harassment report the harassment, they may suffer advancement setbacks such as being passed over for promotions, being left out of key meetings, retaliation, and being labelled a troublemaker.

4. Many don't perceive the harassing behaviour as negative, because it is so common.

REASON 3 - PROVIDE STATISTICAL DATA OR CREDIBLE REPORTS TO SUPPORT THE ISSUES

1. 63% of women did not file a complaint, and 79% of men kept issues to themselves.

In 2017, BBC surveyed 2,000 respondents and showed that most victims of sexual harassment didn’t report the violation. Either in fear of retaliation or if the harassment was played off as a joke, more than half of all victims stayed silent. Encourage victims to come forward by setting clear definitions about sexual harassment in the workplace through regular training and updating your sexual harassment policy to include concrete steps on reporting harassment.

2. 55% of victims experience retaliation after speaking up or making a claim.

A report released by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2020 showed that 55.8% of the complaints received during 2020 are related to retaliation after reporting a sexual harassment incident. Retaliation discourages victims from reporting and fosters a toxic work culture. It comes in many forms, including a demotion, exclusion from staff activities, or unfavourable reassignment.

3. 32% of employees weren’t aware that jokes could be considered sexual harassment.

This figure shown by a survey in 2019 shows that annual training is necessary to get your employees on the same page on what’s considered harassment. Even if it’s unintentional, sexual harassment still causes discomfort for the harassed, liability for your company, and a tarnished record for the unsuspecting perpetrator. Protect your employees from avoidable claims and unnecessary emotional distress by doing regular training on appropriate workplace behaviour.

4. According to victims who have reported harassment, 95% of the men go unpunished.

According to the women surveyed by ABC and Washington Post, 95% of harassers go unpunished. This is a very concerning figure, as it shows how the culture in most companies often protects the perpetrators instead of victims. Not punishing the harasser encourages them to do it again and discourages the victims from coming forward in the future.

5. Workplace sexual harassment costs an average of $2.6 billion in lost productivity or $1,053 per victim.

Besides the emotional distress for everybody involved, including witnesses, investigators, and victims, workplace sexual harassment also has a significant financial cost attached to it. The loss of productivity alone costs $1,053 per victim. Deloitte breaks this down further in their report. Preventing workplace sexual harassment is in everyone’s best interest. Prevention and awareness not only create a safe space for your employees but can even benefit your bottom line.