The price of being sexually harassed

Nine out of 10 people who bring a sexual harassment case to an employment tribunal lose their job or resign as a consequence of the harassment, according to recent research.

Sexual harassment:

Unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature, including name calling with demeaning terminology

Poorly paid, young women who work in insecure jobs in shops or factories were found to be the most likely targets of sexual harassment, the Equal Opportunities Commission's research showed.

The harasser would in most cases be the victim's immediate manager, the company owner or a company director, according to the research which covered employment tribunal cases in the UK over the past three years.

"Sexual harassment, far from being just a bit of fun as some people try to claim, makes people's lives a misery, affecting their confidence and their health as well as their performance at work," said the commission's deputy chairwoman, Jenny Watson.

Suffer in silence

Few victims of sexual harassment lodge formal complaints.

Instead, several hundred thousand of them suffer in silence for months or even years.

Even among those taking their case to a tribunal, only half had made a formal complaint at their work place.

Concern about their career prospects and embarrassment were cited as reasons why the rest did not.

"Our analysis of employment tribunal cases paints a grim picture, but this is only the tip of the iceberg," said Ms Watson.

Bad for business

The commission urged victims to lodge formal complaints.

It offers advice on how to do so in a leaflet with the title "What would you do if your boss asked you for a blow job?"

Employers should act as well to prevent damage to their businesses from sexual harassment, the commission said.