By Thomas Ricotta on September 1st, 2023 in Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment can happen to any employee no matter what type of job they have or where they work. You could experience sexual harassment as a line worker in a factory or as a vice president in a huge corporation. Regardless of what type of job you have, being the victim of sexual harassment is degrading, demoralizing, and illegal. Sexual harassment in white collar workplaces relates to discrimination and hostile work environments that occur in corporate or professional settings more commonly referred to as “white collar”. At Ricotta and Marks, we strive to help all employees in New York City who experience illegal sexual harassment regardless of their job title because discrimination can affect everyone, no matter what their station.
Study Suggests Rampant Sexual Harassment in the Professional Workplace
A recent study performed by the Trades Union Conference (TUC) in Great Britain found that almost two-thirds of young women have experienced sexual harassment, bullying, or verbal abuse at work. Most of the employees polled worked in corporate, professional settings and were considered “white collar” jobs. Of those victims of sexual harassment in white collar workplaces, most victims never report the harassment for fear of not being believed, or damaging their working relationships and career prospects.
The study, performed in May 2023, surveyed female professional workers between the ages of 25 and 34. Of those women who reported incidents of sexual harassment, two in five (43%) reported at least three incidents of sexual harassment. Even though this study occurred in Great Britain, there is every indication that the same numbers of sexual harassment in the professional work space would be similar in the United States and specifically NYC.
Actually, the findings and numbers of the 2023 TUC Great Britain study match an older study performed in the United States by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI) in 2018. In that study, for example, professional employees in the following industries reported sexual harassment:
- Media: 41% of women and 22% of men report being sexually harassed;
- Technology & Communications: 37% of women and 12% of men report being sexually harassed;
- Consulting: In the field of consulting and management, 36% of women and 20% of men report being sexually harassed;
- Health Care & Social Assistance: 35% of women and 14% of men have been sexually harassed in this industry;
- Architecture, Engineering, & Aerospace: 32% of women and 16% of men have been sexually harassed;
- Pharmaceuticals and Other Scientific Research: 27% of women and 17% of men report having been sexually harassed.
- Financial Services: 26% of women and just 7% of men report having been sexually harassed; and
- Legal Services: 22% of women and just 7% of men have been sexually harassed.
Unfortunately, the data suggests that the current numbers and incidents of sexual harassment remain too high. Although there are more legal protections and corporations are spending more time and money on training, incidents of sexual harassment and hostile work environments still occur.
What is Unlawful Harassment in the Workplace?
Many employees may not understand what actions could be considered sexual harassment. Many factual scenarios could be considered sexual harassment under the law. Illegal sexual harassment consists of any unwanted sexual advance from one employee to another, regardless of the sex of the aggressor and targeted employee. Also, it does not matter what level in the corporate hierarchy the aggressor is versus the level that the targeted employee is at. Here are some examples of sexual harassment that is considered illegal and creates a hostile working environment:
- Unwelcome sexual advances,
- Requests for sexual favors,
- Requests for quid pro quo sexual favors,
- Verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature,
- Offensive remarks about a person’s sex, and
- Comments or actions related to sex that create a hostile work environment.
Within the above broad categories can be many different, specific forms of actions and verbal statements that could constitute sexual harassment and create a hostile work environment.
If you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment, please contact the NYC sexual harassment lawyers at Ricotta and Marks. Help is only a phone call away.