Half of women sexually harassed at work – BBC poll
A new report has revealed that half of all British women have been sexually harassed by a colleague or employer in the workplace.
The survey of more than 2,000 people, published by the BBC, also found that a fifth of men have been the subject of sexual harassment at work.
The level of harassment ranged from inappropriate comments to actual sexual assaults.
The report found that more than a quarter of those who have been harassed suffered some form of inappropriate joke or banter, while one in seven had suffered inappropriate touching.
A further one in ten women had been sexually assaulted at work or in a place of study.
The BBC also found:
· More women than men were targeted by a boss or senior manager – 30 per cent compared with 12 per cent
· One in 10 women who had experienced harassment said it led to them leaving their job or place of study
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “How many times do we still hear that sexual harassment in the workplace is just a bit of ‘banter’?
“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.
“Employers must be clear they have a zero tolerance attitude to sexual harassment and treat any complaint seriously. It’s a scandal that so few women feel their bosses are dealing with the issue properly.”