Are you being harassed at workplace?

79 per cent of women face sexual harassment at workplace.

A study has revealed that 79 per cent of women face sexual harassment at workplace and those in casual and contract jobs are more at risk.

Anthony LaMontagne, associate professor at the VicHealth Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, examined the likelihood of sexual harassment in different types of employment.

“Our study shows that 79 per cent of those who experience unwanted sexual advances at work are women,” LaMontagne said. “The study is an important new evidence because precarious employment has been associated with a variety of adverse working conditions as well as with poorer mental and physical health,” he added.

“People who are employed in casual jobs are about five times more likely to be subjected to unwanted sexual advances. The research also shows that people in contract positions are about 10 times more likely to be sexually harassed at work,” LaMontagne added.

Victorian Health Promotion Foundation CEO Todd Harper observed: “Not only are women more likely to experience sexual harassment but females make up bigger proportions of industries which use more casual and contract labour.”

“There is a strong link between sexual harassment and mental health problems. This behaviour is costly and preventable,” Harper said in a release.

How to Stop Sexual Harassment at Work

Instructions

Step1

Verbally warn. If you so choose, and depending on the severity of the sexual harassment, you can verbally warn the person that if they falter again you will report them. Many times this will stop it dead in the tracks, but sometimes it will not.

Step2

Report the incident. No matter what, you must report any incident of sexual harassment. Simply write down a brief synopsis of what happened, and make sure to submit it to your boss and the proper other channels at your workplace.

Step3

Find the help you need. There are tons of resources you can find on the internet that have places that will help you. You do need to take the first step and research and contact these organizations in order to get the help you need.

Step4

Take action. Do not let yourself sit idle. Sexual harassment is illegal, and there are plenty of things that you can do to stop it. Make sure your boss and co-workers realize how serious you are about defending your rights.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, sexual harassment is illegal; there is no room for it in the workplace ever.
• Never falsely report a sexual harassment incident.