10 ways to protect women from sexual harassment in the workplace :
According to a 2015 survey, one in three people between the ages of 18 and 34 are victims of sexual harassment at the workplace. 8 Of those women, 81% have experienced verbal harassment, 44% have received sexual abuse and unwanted touches, and 25% have dealt with vulgar texts or emails. In addition, 75% of women are harassed by male coworkers in the workplace, and 10% of female coworkers are harassed at work.
However, women rarely complain of sexual harassment and harassment. For example, 71% of women claim that they have never complained of sexual harassment in the workplace. And only 15% of those who reported harassment felt it was handled properly.
So how do we protect women from sexual harassment in the workplace?
First of all, what is considered sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is:
Any type of unwanted word or act of a sexual nature violates a person’s body, privacy or feelings and makes them feel uncomfortable, threatening, insecure, afraid, or disrespectful.
Sexual harassment can take many forms and include one or more forms at a time:
Inspection: Looking at someone’s body or looking inappropriately.
Facial expressions: Create any facial expressions that suggest sexual intent (e.g., licking, eyelids, lip biting).
Invocations: Whistling, whispering and any sexually provocative sound.
Comments: Making sexual comments, making sexual jokes or anecdotes about someone’s body, clothing, or how they are walking / behaving/working, or giving sexual or offensive advice.
Stalking or following a person: Waiting nearby or at a distance, on foot or using a vehicle, frequently or once, or outside someone’s workplace/home/car.
Invitation to have sex: A request for sex, a description of sexual practice or sexual fantasy.
Unwanted interest:
- Interfering with someone’s business or affairs through unsolicited communication
- Insisting on dating and dating
- Soliciting sex in exchange for work or other benefits and services
- Giving sexual gifts
- Insisting on walking with the person or taking them to his home Work nonetheless
Sexual images: Display sexual images online or offline.
Online Harassment: Sending unwanted, offensive, or inappropriate comments, messages and / or photos and videos via email, instant messaging, social media, forums, blogs or online chat sites.
Phone calls: Making phone calls or sending text messages containing sexual advice or threats.
Touching: Touching, shaking, biting, rubbing, getting too close, grabbing, pulling and any other kind of unwanted sexual gesture towards someone.
Nudity: Showing intimate parts in front of someone or masturbating in front of or in front of someone against their will.
Threats and intimidation: Threats of any sexual harassment or sexual harassment, including the threat of rape.
Group sexual harassment: Sexual harassment (including the form as mentioned earlier) by a large group against one person or more than one person.
Sexual harassment is a form of sexual violence that includes:
Sexual assault: Forced and/or forced sexual activity, such as kissing and tearing.
Rape: The use of body parts or other objects and tools to enter the mouth, anus, or vagina exerts pressure or force.
Mass assault: Harassment or sexual harassment (including rape) committed by a large group of people against a person.
Guidelines for sexual harassment in your workplace. Also, these guidelines will help you take an active role in stopping sexual harassment in the workplace.
1.Learn the definition of sexual harassment:
Sexual harassment must be understood by all employees.
2.Incorporate discriminatory and harassment training in your workplace
Regular and ongoing training should be mandatory for both employees and supervisors.
3.Make sure your workplace has a policy against sexual harassment
It is essential that your company publishes policies regarding sexual harassment in the workplace and that all employees know it. It should have direct reporting and whistle-blowing methods.
4.Raise awareness
Awareness is the best form of prevention. Those who know that harassment can be caught as behavior are less likely and more likely to complain of harassment. This brief assessment will help employees measure their perceptions about sexual harassment in the workplace.
5.Clear harassment reporting procedures
Employees must feel comfortable reporting any behavior that makes them and other employees uncomfortable. But, unfortunately, we have learned one thing from these latest allegations: coworkers like to report to their coworkers who misbehave at work rather than their safety.
6.Incorporate employee welfare in appraisals and review meetings
These meetings offer more than the opportunity to evaluate your employees’ achievements and performance. It’s a way to let employees know if they feel uncomfortable or complain about their coworkers.
7.Immediately address any concerns or allegations.
Any situation where any of your coworkers or employees have concerns about you should be dealt with immediately. This is especially true in the case of sexual harassment in the workplace. There should be clear procedures in place to allow concerns to be raised quickly and efficiently.
8.A designated person should be available to review all allegations.
Is there a designated staff member in your workplace who is responsible for handling sexual harassment concerns? This will be the case for small and medium-sized businesses, but it should also be an HR person. In large organizations, employees should have someone dedicated to dealing with any issues (including harassment).
9.Zero tolerance policy
Your company should have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. No matter what position an employee holds in the company, there should be immediate consequences if they are convicted of sexually harassing another employee member or colleague. If necessary, a statement has to be given to the police.
10.All concerns should be reported immediately.
If you feel that someone in your company is treating you inappropriately or having concerns about a coworker, you should express concern immediately. Then, you can express your concerns without having to worry about being fired or having your pay cut.
We hope you are safe there, and we hope our article will help raise awareness. As long as everyone does their best, we will eventually stop sexual harassment at work or literally elsewhere. Have you ever been sexually harassed or sexually harassed at work? Or do you know anyone who has been? Do you want to know for other women that they are not alone? Let us know in the comments.