How does sexual harassment impact employee productivity

 Sexual harassment is more than just casual conversation in the restroom, a compliment, "harmless" flirting, or an offer to share a cup of coffee. Workplace harassment is a pattern of discriminatory conduct that fosters a hostile work environment on the basis of membership in a protected class. Sexual harassment at work can take many different forms, including verbal, mental, and physical. All of these can be are repeatedly carried out to sexually harass a person or group of people. It might include assaults like unwelcome groping, abuse of authority, sexual bartering, and verbal or physical abuse. All employees are negatively impacted by workplace harassment, which also lowers morale, decreases productivity, and increases turnover. The victims of workplace sexual harassment are those who are most affected because it occurs frequently in many environments around the world. Victims' productivity rate decreases the longer they put up with and permit such events to occur. It negatively impacts a person's mental, physical, and psychological health.

Figure 01: Impact on productivity

Without a doubt, harassment is wrong on moral, legal, and professional grounds. Staff morale is lower, which lowers productivity and raises turnover and absenteeism. The fundamental rights of the employees have repercussions on individual career development, worker productivity, general well-being, and peace of mind. The organization, as well as the individual, are both the victims. If an organization's employees are not happy and feel safe at work, the quality of service will suffer. Consequently, they will perform worse at work.

As Naveed, A., tharani, A., Alwani, N. (2010) explains employee productivity is reduced in toxic workplaces. A worker's productivity will be impacted by a sexual harassment incident, or worse, a pervasive harassment campaign. According to research, sexual harassment strongly correlates with job dissatisfaction and disengagement. The effects of sexual harassment on the workplace also include employee distraction, tardiness, absenteeism, and project neglect. Sexual harassment causes a loss in productivity because of how it affects workers' ability to perform their jobs. The presence of sexual innuendos will make employees less motivated to work and made it difficult for them to focus on their tasks. Everyone suffers when harassment and discrimination are present in the workplace. The hostility engendered by harassment leads to employee absenteeism, low morale, rumors, hostility, stress, and anxiety. The prevalence of low productivity is higher in settings with high rates of sexual harassment. Low morale, disgruntled workers, and high absenteeism rates will soon be reflected in lower productivity and profits in a workplace environment that fails to adequately address the issue of sexual harassment.

Figure 02: Impact of sexual harassment on productivity

 

Reference

Anonymous, n.d. Impactly Blog. [Online]

Available at: https://www.getimpactly.com/post/effects-of-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace

[Accessed 29 11 2022].

Naveed, A., tharani, A., Alwani, N. (2010). Sexual harassment at work place: are you safe?. Journal of Ayub Medical College, 22(3), 222-4. Available at: http://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_son/4

Ro, C., (2021). The long-lasting effects of workplace sexual harassment. [Online]

Available at: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20211113-the-long-lasting-effects-of-workplace-sexual-harassment

[Accessed 28 11 2022].