90%

Americans who believe

72%
Of women who have been
57%
Of men who have been
a zero-tolerance policy sexually harassed, were sexually harassed, were
is necessary to help end harassed by someone more harassed by other men6
sexual harassment1 senior in their careers6

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is illegal sexual conduct in the workplace. It is a form of sexual discrimination which is
defined by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.” States and local municipalities have expanded
protections that may also include offensive comments regarding someone’s sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, gender expression, transgender status, pregnancy, childcare, and related medical conditions.

Types of Sexual Harassment

Hostile Work Environment Quid Pro Quo
n A pattern of unwelcome sexual or gender-based n Someone in authority requests sex, sexual favors,
conduct or relationship
n So pervasive or severe that employee has difficulty n Acceptance or rejection of request can impact job
working (may result in Tangible Employment Action)
n A “reasonable person” would find the environment n Can be direct or implied “this for that”
hostile and intimidating

Third-Party
n Can be hostile work environment from a non-
employee (vendor, customer, delivery person, etc.)
n Can be quid pro quo when someone in authority
asks employee to consent to sexual conduct with a
third party (for example, manager promises a bonus
to employee if she dates an important client)
Bystander
n Can be hostile work environment when employees
who are not the direct target of harassing behavior
experience a hostile work environment because of
the sexual conduct of others
n Can be quid pro quo when employee experiences
a job impact resulting from a manager-co-worker
sexual relationship

Sexual harassment complaints 2017complaints 2 by:

filed with EEOC 2 in:

2015: 2016: 2017:

12,573 12,860 12,428 Women:
83.5%
Men:
16.5%

Female employees
3

4 in 10 say they have experienced

unwanted sexual conduct

6 in 10 say they have experienced sexist,

crude, or offensive language, visuals and
conduct

LGBT employees LGB 35%

experiencing sexual
harassment 3 Transgender 50%

Industries with the highest number of EEOC complaints4:

1. Restaurants and hospitality 2. Retail 3. Manufacturing 4. Healthcare

Restaurant employees who report Restaurant employees who report that

sexual harassment from:5 being touched inappropriately was
common at their workplace:5

40% Transgender

30% Women
Customers Co-workers Management
78% 80% 66% 22% Men

White collar industries with highest number of sexual

harassment incidents:6
1. Media 2. Technology and 3. Consulting and 4. Healthcare and
Industry Telecommunications Management Social Assistance

White collar industries with Corporate

lowest number of sexual employees
harassment incidents: reporting sexual
6

harassment:6
Legal Financial
services services
Women: Men:
34% 13%

#1 Reason victims don’t take action

They worry they’ll lose their job, their income/tips.

Employees who witnessed sexual harassment of a colleague

7

Spoke up in the moment Reported the incident to HR

Women: 31% Women: 23%

Men: 27% Men: 30%

How employees take action: How managers take action:

n Steer clear of inappropriate behaviors n Lead by example n Practice zero tolerance
n Filter what you say and do at work n Steer clear of inappropriate n Stop inappropriate conduct
n Speak up behaviors before it becomes illegal
n Filter what you say and do at harassment
n Be an upstander
work n Don’t retaliate (also against
n Practice zero tolerance the law)
n Empower your people to
speak up n Build a culture of respect
n Encourage your employees n Raise awareness with
to be upstanders mandatory employee
n Know the signs training
n Take all reports seriously

Sources
1. NPR and Ipsos poll, December 2017, www.npr.org/2017/12/14/570601136/poll-sexual-harassment-ipsos
2. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), www.eeoc.gov/statistics/
3. Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace, June 2016 Report, www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/task_force/harassment
4. “Total sexual harassment charges filed, by industry, fiscal years 2005 through 2015,” Jocelyn Frye, Center for American Progress
5. The Glass Floor: Sexual Harassment in the Restaurant Industry, October 2014
http://rocunited.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/REPORT_The-Glass-Floor-Sexual-Harassment-in-the-Restaurant-Industry2.pdf
6. “Media Industry Has Highest incidence of Sexual Harassment Among White Collar Workers, Survey Finds,” Variety, July 25, 2018
https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/media-industry-sexual-harassment-survey-1202884052/
7. “What #MeToo Means for Corporate America,” Study by the Center for Talent Innovation
http://www.talentinnovation.org/_private/assets/WhatMeTooMeans_KeyFindings-CTI.pdf

Infographic provided courtesy of Media Partners, providers of premier “people skills” and compliance training content.

www.mediapartners.com