Sexual harassment in the workplace: impacts and solutions

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious problem that can affect any employee, regardless of professional environment, team size or sector. According to the 2022 IPSOS x Qualisocial barometer, 1 in 3 employees (35%) say they have already experienced sexual harassment at work. Women are particularly affected, with 52% of women and 27% of men victims of sexual harassment, according to an ILO study. These figures underline the urgent need to take action against this phenomenon.

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To help you, Hally, a specialist in the prevention of gender-based and sexual violence, has co-written this article to provide you with the resources you need.

What is sexual harassment?

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This includes gestures, words, writings, images or videos of a sexual nature, as well as any form of serious pressure, even non-verbal, aimed at obtaining sexual favors.

Companies need to take action to prevent and punish this phenomenon, as it has major consequences for the people affected, the workgroup and performance. It is therefore a crucial Quality of Working Life (QWL) issue for every organization.

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How do you recognize sexual harassment in the workplace?

Sexual harassment in the workplace can take many forms:

• Whistling, rude gestures or comments, lustful glances.
• Annoying remarks about dress or appearance.
• Obscene remarks or writings with sexual connotations.
• Light physical contact.
• Compromising invitations or embarrassing gifts.
• Pressure to perform an act of a sexual nature.

If a victim is subjected to non-consensual gestures on a sexual area, this is called sexual assault.

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What impact does sexual harassment have on QWL?

The consequences of sexual harassment in the workplace are serious, both for the individual and for the working environment.

Harmful impacts on individual health

Victims may suffer from :

• Stress, anxiety and feelings of insecurity: according to the barometer on ordinary sexism in the workplace 2023, one woman in two feels great distress in the face of sexist behavior.
• Loss of self-confidence: Victims may experience guilt and shame, and develop traumatic neurosis, affecting their self-esteem.
• Sleep disorders and chronic fatigue: Women who experience sexual harassment are more likely to have high blood pressure and sleep disorders (Source: Jama Internal Medicine).

Consequences for the workplace

A victim of sexual harassment in the workplace is more likely to be absent, to leave her job, and to have her productivity and professional relationships affected. Colleagues who witness such acts also suffer stress, and the general working atmosphere deteriorates. Bystander stress has also been well documented.

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How to combat sexual harassment in the workplace?

Knowing the damaging impact on the health of your employees and your company, you may as well do everything you can to avoid it. To do this, you can implement a number of preventive actions and solutions.

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Implement a clear and visible prevention policy

Here's a checklist to guide you in your prevention approach:

• Designated representatives: Since 2019, one referent must be appointed within the CSE, and a second in companies with more than 250 employees.
• Communicating their role: Have you communicated their name and role?
• Training: Have these people been trained?
• Reporting process: Is there a clear process for reporting problematic behavior?
• Legal support: Do you have trained staff or legal advisers for investigations?

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Training and raising employee awareness

Organize regular training sessions on sexual harassment in the workplace for HR teams, managers and employees. Use a variety of formats such as face-to-face, videoconferencing, or fun tools to ensure maximum impact. Training should cover :

• Management & HR: Employer obligations, managing and sanctioning harassment situations.
• Managers: Reacting to incidents, raising awareness of weak signals.
• Employees: Limits to be aware of, reporting procedures and the role of the witness.

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Fostering a respectful and caring work environment

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Make everyone in the company responsible, especially senior staff, managers and senior management. Give regular reminders and organize awareness-raising sessions on related topics such as street harassment and gender equality.

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Take action in the event of sexual harassment

Be prepared to react quickly in the event of sexual harassment:

• Support for victims: Set up reporting procedures and guarantee confidentiality and security. Do you have trained staff or external hotlines?
• Sanctions: Initiate an internal investigation as soon as a case is reported, and apply proportionate disciplinary sanctions. Inform reporters of their rights and redirect them to the appropriate resources.

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A phenomenon that companies must take into account

Sexual harassment in the workplace is therefore everyone's business, not just HR's or managers'. Your role is to ensure that everything is in place to prevent it or to react in the event of a problem. Establishing a culture of solidarity and mutual support within your teams is also important, to make everyone aware of their role in the fight against inequality.

For an effective approach to combating sexual harassment, you can call on external systems to help you. Hally offers audit solutions for reporting and support systems, awareness-raising and training workshops for your teams, and support in setting up customized projects, such as internal documents or guides.

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And to manage your QVCT strategy as a whole, to ensure inclusion and equality, but also to take care of your employees' health and their working conditions, Moha supports you from A to Z with a diagnosis, a personalized action plan and a platform to centralize your approach.

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To find out more, discover these resources and associations:

- AVFT: The European Association against Violence in the Workplace https://www.avft.org/2003/08/29/lettre-de-protestation-de-lavft-a-la-realisatrice-du-documentaire-harcelement-sexuel-quand-la-drague-derape/,

- Défenseur des droits: French independent public institution that defends the rights and freedoms of citizens, fights discrimination and monitors respect for the rights of users of public services. https://www.defenseurdesdroits.fr/,

- Arrêtons les violences (can be called upon to deal with harassment and discrimination): This platform aims to combat sexist and sexual violence. It offers information, resources and support for victims of these forms of violence. The platform also offers tools to raise public awareness and prevent such behavior. https://arretonslesviolences.gouv.fr/,

- CFCV: CFVC, or Collectif Féministe Contre le Viol, is a French militant organization. Its main objective is to fight against sexual violence against women, as well as for the recognition of victims' rights and the prevention of such violence. https://cfcv.asso.fr/,

- Droits d'urgence: Combating exclusion by promoting access to the law for the most disadvantaged. https://www.droitsdurgence.org/,

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