Sexual harassment in the workplace
The shock survey presented by the GSEE undoubtedly reinforced the feeling that if it is once considered difficult for a worker to complain to his employer about a violation of working conditions, a complaint of sexual harassment seems like a mountain.
The survey shows that sexual harassment in the workplace is common (43.5%) or very common (31.4%). Commonly, it is the norm. Therefore, the fact that 3 out of 10 workers report being victims of such behaviour cannot be surprising.
In another recent survey, conducted in Greece by PRORATA, most Greek women (65%) stated that they have suffered some form of sexual harassment, most commonly in the workplace (58%).
What is considered sexual harassment
Touching, physical violence, unreasonable proximity, comments and questions about appearance, lifestyle, sexual orientation, offensive phone calls, whistles, sexually charged gestures, inappropriate intense or inappropriate stares, obscene sexual jokes or offensive comments about the body, presentation of sexual material, sexually charged e-mails or text messages, inappropriate social media approaches.
All, variations on the same theme, while in the most aggressive forms, the victim is pressured, blackmailed, in exchange for a pay rise, a promotion or even job retention.
Sexual harassment in the workplace: Complaints
The fact that only 1.6% of victims reported sexual harassment to the authorities should be of concern. Not so much because of the anaemic rate of these formal complaints, but because their outcome does indeed vindicate victims' reservations.
After the victim came into direct confrontation with the perpetrator or informed the competent persons or institutions, in 45.7% of cases nothing happened, no action was taken, and in only 8.7% of cases the complaint was investigated.
Typical are the cases that went directly to the Labour Inspectorate or were first passed on to the Ombudsman. The vindication of victims is probably the exception.
iefimerida
