Harassment at work – why is it so hard to deal with and what can you do about it?

Harassment at work – why is it so hard to deal with and what can you do about it?

The #metoo movement has certainly thrown a spotlight on sexual harassment and assault. Women from all walks of life have come forward to tell of their experiences, and the extent of the harassment has shocked many people, especially men.

Workplaces which care about their employees have started to look at the way they operate, with the intention of making changes and improvements in the system. However, dealing with workplace harassment is harder than they expected it to be.

Why is it so hard to deal with harassment at work?

I think it all comes down to the different perceptions of what constitutes sexual harassment

The Australian Human Rights Commission says sexual harassment may include:

·      staring or leering

·      unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against you or unwelcome touching

·      suggestive comments or jokes

·      insults or taunts of a sexual nature

·      intrusive questions or statements about your private life

·      displaying posters, magazines or screen savers of a sexual nature

·      sending sexually explicit emails or text messages

·      inappropriate advances on social networking sites

·      accessing sexually explicit internet sites

·      requests for sex or repeated unwanted requests to go out on dates

·      behaviour that may also be considered to be an offence under criminal law, such as physical assault, indecent exposure, sexual assault, stalking or obscene communications.

I truly believe most men (I know it applies to women, too, but most offenders are male) don’t deliberately set out to harass women. Often, they make what they think is a joke or a complement. But when you’ve heard that same thing many times before, it’s hard to take.

And that’s the nitty gritty of harassment. Unless it’s explicit, it’s all in the interpretation, isn’t it?

Studies have shown that anti-harassment training causes more problems than it fixes. According to an article in HBR, “Men who score high on a psychological scale for likelihood to harass women come out of training with significantly worse attitudes toward harassment, thinking it is no big deal.”

Harvard professor Frank Dobbin says there are two key ways to reduce the incidence of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. First, hire more women in each section of your business. Second, promote women to leadership positions.

It makes sense, doesn’t it?

Now, this doesn’t mean you can stop the anti-harassment training. It’s awesome for helping everyone to recognise harassment and understand their rights, and your internal systems for dealing with it. It makes clear your intolerance for this behaviour in the workplace.

What it does mean, though, is training shouldn’t be your only solution, yet that’s where many companies stop.

Why is sexual harassment so hard to deal with? Because there aren’t enough women in your organisation, especially in leadership roles. There is a clear imbalance of power and until that’s corrected, women will always be on the receiving end of dubious comments and overt suggestions.

What can you do about it? Recruit more women and build them a career path to leadership. Importantly, make sure you’re sending a clear message that any form of sexual harassment is not acceptable in your company.

#metoo has done a great job of opening conversation around the topic, but now it’s up to us to turn conversation into positive change.

The Women’s Platinum Program is designed to help establish the culture of women leaders in your organisation, and give women the confidence and skills they need to make a significant difference to your overall results.

Talk to us today and we’ll help you reduce sexual harassment in your business by evening up your leadership gender balance. Give us a call on 1300 719 665.

About Sonia McDonald & LeadershipHQ

Sonia McDonald, CEO and Founder of LeadershipHQ, is one of Australia's Leading Executive Coaches and Dynamic Keynote Speaker and Author of Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! LeadershipHQ’s Vision and Purpose is to Build a World of Great Leaders and Great Leadership. 

We create Really Cool Leaders and Organisations. 

We create High Performance, High Impact Leaders and Cultures that Boost Your Profit, Performance and Productivity.

LeadershipHQ is the Headquarters of Exceptional Leadership. We make really cool Leaders.

We transform the way businesses and leaders connect and communicate, and catapult them toward success using innovative, empowering leadership skills that get results FAST!

LeadershipHQ is your resource hub for all things leadership, tailoring programs to meet your organisation’s need and your business objectives. Combining one on one coaching, toolkits, programs, diagnostics, online learning centres and action learning projects, we help your people discover their talents and build on them.

LeadershipHQ is all about building great leaders who in turn build great companies.

If you are ready for business greatness, contact us today at info@leadershiphq.com.au.

Reach the team at LeadershipHQ or Sonia via her website today.

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S.S Elli M.Sc., FACM, FCIOB, MCIArb, MPM,

Project Control & Dispute Resolution Professional

6y

Males harassing women

#metoo ... actresses took the oportunitiy to get their dream part. After lots of years they complain about now how they got this? I worked lots of years in the male profession, because before I got self-employed I was electronic technician. Learnd this, studied this, worked as this. I never had problems, all my colleagues were evertime fair and it was great to work in the male profession. I always felt accepted ... thanks! Hey! women set up the borders, you got an mouth, two elbows and two legs ... where is the problem? And if you want to take the career ladder use your know-how and intelligence. All over the world the same claptrap about harrassing and America first ;-)

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Cara Szellemes

Amazon No. 1 Bestselling Author of Your Brilliant Un-Career | Fractional Content Strategist (currently focusing on Stakeholder Engagement) | Founder of 180Selfcare | Counsellor-in-training

6y

Great article and interesting proposition Sonia McDonald. I have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace from clients right through to colleagues (all men) and it's uncomfortable and disempowering. In fact, some of what I've experienced, it sounds like would come under the criminal offense part of that description you offered. Had never thought about that so thanks for bringing that to light. I definitely want to hire more women or just hire both respectful women and men.

Gerald Pauschmann

Creator of De-escalating hostile and potentially violent situations

6y

What a ridiculous article. So to reduce harassment in the workplace it is suggested to ‘hire more women’ So is he saying women are only victims and not the perpetrators. Does anybody know what the statistics are in relation to the following Males harassing women Women harassing women Women Harassing males and Males harassing males Why is this article only ‘really’ focussing on women being the victim?

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Matt Christopher

Director and Co-Founder at Applied Mind Academy

6y

The trianing needs to start at the home , school and in the wider community, it far to late to be teaching men and women , about sexual harassment when we are in adult life , the problem is that men and women that sexual harassment others, will just hide there actions, those of us that view sexual harassment as a crime need to speak out , and speak up when ever we see it , keep up the great work

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