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How pervasive is sexual harassment in the workplace?

On Behalf of | Jan 17, 2018 | Sexual Harassment At Work

The past few years have shed light on several injustices toward women that had gone unnoticed or unacknowledged in the past: Movements like #MeToo and the Hollywood allegation scandals have demonstrated how much abuse happens behind the scenes. With all of this activity done to further women’s rights, citizens of Florida may notice how much their awareness has increased with regards to the pervasiveness of sexual abuse in the workplace as well as what constitutes sexual abuse.

Numerous surveys indicate the amount of sexual harassment that happens at work. The percentage of women who say they have been sexually harassed in the workplace ranges from 22 to 35 percent depending on the poll taken. The percentage of women who have experienced sexual harassment in their lives, either in or out of the workplace, ranges from 42 to 60 percent.

About 66 percent of people believe that the recent Hollywood allegations are indicative of an inherent problem within American culture with 64 to 69 percent of survey respondents specifying the workplace as a space of contention. As a result, workplaces have been increasing their efforts to curb unwanted sexual behavior. About 87 percent of employees feel safe at their job, and 7 out of every 10 believe that their employer is taking the necessary precautions against sexual misconduct.

Despite an employer’s best efforts, it is still possible to experience harassment. Several polls show plenty of disagreement on what constitutes sexual harassment. Acts such as touching, groping and flashing were almost recognized universally as inappropriate, but people couldn’t agree on whether persistence in asking someone out, wolf whistling or looking at a women’s breasts should be considered sexual harassment. When in doubt, an employee may wish to seek sexual harassment legal assistance to help protect their rights.