Women are facing a “shameful” amount of sexual harassment in the workplace, according to the TUC, with 52% experiencing it in some form.
The group’s latest report says unwelcome jokes, verbal advances and suggestive remarks are among the issues female employees have faced at work.
Younger women in particular are encountering problems, with the union group saying two-thirds of those aged 18 to 24 have suffered sexual harassment in the workplace.
With 1,500 women polled for the TUC survey, a third said they have faced unwelcome jokes in the past, with a quarter receiving suggestive comments about their body or clothes.
One in four said they have been touched by another person, with one in eight facing attempts to kiss them.
The majority of sexual harassment comes from male co-workers, the TUC said, while one in five women said their line manager was responsible.
Responding to the findings, TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: ” Sexual harassment is undermining, humiliating and can have a huge effect on mental health. Victims are often left feeling ashamed and frightened.”
She also said that it has “no place in a modern workplace, or in wider society”.
Chris Brazier, senior associate in B P Collins’ employment practice added: “This survey highlights the need for businesses to actively engage their staff in diversity and equality training in order to promote an environment where this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. Providing training not only reinforces a commitment to remove such behaviour from the workplace, but will also assist when it comes to taking action against the perpetrators, as they will be fully aware of the types of behaviour that is unacceptable. It will also increase the likelihood of staff coming forward with complaints if they feel they will be appropriately handled by their employer, which can only be positive for workplace morale.”
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