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Sexual harassmentGenderSex discrimination

Female HR directors more likely to view workplace as sexist, reports charity

by Jo Faragher 4 Sep 2017
by Jo Faragher 4 Sep 2017

Almost half of female HR directors and decision-makers think their workplaces are sexist, compared with just a quarter of men in the same position, according to the Young Women’s Trust charity.

Further resources

Sexual harassment in the workplace: Uber media outcry alerts employers to the risk

Employment law manual: sex discrimination

Its survey of 800 HRDs and decision makers revealed that one in eight large employers felt that sexual harassment went unreported in their organisation. A tenth were aware of formal sexual harassment complaints.

When asked whether they thought sexism still existed in most workplaces, 63% of HR directors agreed, rising to 76% among female decision-makers.

“Too many young women are facing sexism and sexual harassment while trying to carry out their jobs,” said Dr Carole Easton, chief executive of the Young Women’s Trust.

“It is shocking how many employers are aware of this in their own workplace – yet the problem continues.”

Joe Levenson, director of campaigns at the charity, said the disparity in perceptions of sexism at work may be down to a lack of awareness.

He said: “While of course there are many excellent male managers, some men may not be aware of the experiences of sexism suffered by women in the workplace – sometimes it may be brushed under the carpet or dismissed as banter.”

“So much sexism at work goes unreported, women fear that they will not be taken seriously or it will be bad for their career.”

Statistics from conciliation service Acas showed a 51% drop in the number of sex discrimination complaints in 2014/15 after the introduction of tribunal fees, despite a 14% increase in calls to its helpline on the same subject – 80% of which were from women.

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Now fees have now been ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court, legal experts expect a rise in sexual harassment and discrimination claims.

relx_copyright – This article is Brightmine content – Copyright 2024 LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Jo Faragher

Jo Faragher has been an employment and business journalist for 20 years. She regularly contributes to Personnel Today and writes features for a number of national business and membership magazines. Jo is also the author of 'Good Work, Great Technology', published in 2022 by Clink Street Publishing, charting the relationship between effective workplace technology and productive and happy employees. She won the Willis Towers Watson HR journalist of the year award in 2015 and has been highly commended twice.

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