Impact of Sexual Harassment

The impact of sexual harassment in the workplace cannot be overlooked. Sexual harassment causes damages to both the victim and the workplace itself. Symptoms that victims experience include decreased job satisfaction, lowered organizational commitment, ill physical and mental health, and even signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Impact on the Victim

Physical and Psychological Effects – Victims of sexual harassment may suffer from stress, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. The harassed persons suffer from emotional and psychological injuries which can lead to loss of self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem.

Thus sexual harassment affects the mental health of the victim and leads to depression and other attitudinal changes which in turn leads to different perceptions of the person harassed towards the colleagues and superiors in particular and society in general. In some cases, it can even lead to suicide by the person harassed.

Health Effects – Victim may suffer from the following:

• Weight loss/gain.
• Loss of appetite.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Financial Effects – Sexual harassment adversely affects the victims earning capacity by forcing them out of employment. Women are compelled to leave their jobs as a result of sexual harassment. There may be other financial effects such as:

• Decreased work performance.
• In order to avoid harassment absence from duty or due to illness from the stress of remaining on leave with pay/without pay.
• In case of a complaint against the offender as retaliation victim may be terminated from employment.
• Trying for another job.
• If the victim does not find another job then it may result in in-

1. Loss of earning forever.
2. Loss of career.

Social Effects – Besides the above sexual harassment may result in the following social effects:

• In case the victim complaint of sexual harassment then danger of retaliation from the harasser or colleagues/friends of the harasser.
• The victim may be subject to criticism and blamed for instigating the offense of sexual harassment.
• The victim may suffer humiliation in the society.
• Defamation of character and reputation.
• If she comes in open to challenge, it may affect her relationship with society.
• The colleagues, friends, and even family may distance themselves from her.

Impact on the Organisation

Sexual harassment in the workplace not only affects the victim but also affects the employer. The impact of sexual harassment on the employer may be as mentioned below:

Effects on Productivity and Profitability: As sexual harassment affects the efficiency and productivity of the workers because of the stressful environment, it has a direct negative impact on the organization. When the employees are less motivated or take time off work, they cannot perform according to their capabilities and thus it affects the quality and quantity of their work which in turn affects the productivity and profitability of the enterprise.

Effects on organizational culture and teamwork: As sexual harassment develops feelings of annoyance and distrust towards fellow beings and superiors, so it has a direct negative impact on the professional relationships at the workplace.

Effects on Public Image: Sexual harassment has an adverse effect on the public image of the enterprise. If the harassment is perpetrated by the employers or the supervisors or they do not make any efforts to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace, they may be considered conspirators and hence this adverse publicity gives a bad name to the organization.

Effects on the potential workforce: Sexual harassment leads to the resignation and dismissal of employees who may be the potential workers and hence this, in turn, leads to the loss of an efficient, effective, and valued workforce.

Effects on the Financial Position: As sexual harassment affects the productivity, profitability, and efficiency of the workers on the one hand and absenteeism, sick pay, medical expenditure on the employees, resignation, training of new employees on the other hand cast a great financial loss to the enterprise.

Impact on the Community

Sexual harassment of women at the workplace may also have the following effects on the community:

• Effect on Productivity and Development.
• Effect on the Morale of the Society.
• Effect on Inter-personal Relationships.
• Effect on the economy.
• Effect on health and safety.

Go back to Tutorial                                                                                Go to Home Page