Business · Companies · 11 hrs ago
Workplace harassment reports rise as everyday dialogue declines
Professionals who handle workplace complaints say reports of harassment have risen by 20% to 100% over the past four years.
The survey covered people such as human resources staff, workplace investigators, lawyers and work psychologists.
More reports do not necessarily mean harassment itself has increased; they show that more problems are being raised.
Complaints include conflicts, verbal abuse, threats, discrimination, cyberharassment and sexual harassment.
Work psychologist Jean-Christophe Villette says fewer informal conversations and more intense workdays can allow tensions to build.
Remote work and teams spread across different sites can also reduce opportunities to talk.
When a complaint is made, the employer must address the situation and may open an internal investigation.
A survey found that most professionals handling workplace harassment cases had seen reports rise by 20% to 100% over the past four years.
The increase does not necessarily mean harassment itself has become more common, but indicates that more problem situations are being reported.
The survey’s authors said reports involving frontline managers and colleagues had risen most.
Work psychologist Jean-Christophe Villette linked the trend to fewer opportunities for workplace dialogue and more intense working days.
- Who
- Professionals who handle workplace harassment cases reported the rise. Work psychologist Jean-Christophe Villette discussed possible causes.
- What
- Reports of workplace harassment have increased, according to a survey. The rise does not necessarily mean harassment itself has increased.
- When
- Over the four years before the survey.
- Where
- In workplaces; the survey covered professionals dealing with these cases in companies and external organizations.
- Why
- Villette pointed to fewer informal opportunities for dialogue and more intense working days as factors that can fuel tensions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
What has declined are mainly the informal opportunities for regulation, the time people spend together, over coffee, in the canteen...
The days are intense; we take less time at the start of the day to brief, at the end to debrief, and during the day to talk.
Human beings have one thing in common: they are all different. Without dialogue, the probability of understanding one another decreases, problems become entrenched, tensions become chronic, worsen and turn into fertile ground for inappropriate behaviour.
Most surveyed professionals handling workplace harassment cases observed reports rise by 20% to 100%.
BFM Business published an article about the survey findings and possible links to workplace conditions.
- Increase in reports
- 20% to 100% over four years
- Survey respondents
- HR directors and staff, employment-law specialists, harassment advisers, internal investigators, external firms, work psychologists, employee representatives and works-council members
- Reports cited
- Managerial or interpersonal conflicts, verbal violence or threats, moral harassment, sexist or discriminatory conduct, cyberharassment and sexual harassment
- Most reported increase
- Cases involving frontline managers and colleagues
Sources
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