Sexual Harassment Statistics
Sexual harassment refers to unwanted sexual advances in the workplace. Advances can be physical or verbal in nature. Sexual harassment cases fall under two categories, quid pro quo (when employment or benefits are offered on the condition of sexual favors) and hostile work environment (when a pattern of harassment creates an abusive or offensive work environment).
State and federal employment laws protect workers from sexual harassment, but it remains a prevalent problem in the workforce. Here, sexual harassment lawyer Gregory Thyberg, who serves individuals from Sacramento, CA, presents sexual harassment statistics that highlight the problem sexual harassment creates for workers across the country.
Reports of Experienced Sexual Harassment
California employers are strictly liable for the sexual harassment of an employee. When an employer knows of sexual harassment, they are legally required to investigate and remedy the harassment without taking any adverse actions against the harassed employee. Despite strict protections, numerous men and women report having experienced sexual harassment. According to statistics reported by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 81 percent of women and 43 percent of men report experiencing some form of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime.
EEOC Sexual Harassment Charges
Not all those who report being victims of sexual harassment experience it in the workplace. And not all who are subject to workplace sexual harassment file an official complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Still, the EEOC receives thousands of sexual harassment charges each year, and the number of claims has grown since the #MeToo movement in 2017.
According to data reported by the EEOC, between the years 2018 and 2021, the EEOC received 27,291 charges alleging sexual harassment. During the same timeframe, sexual harassment charges accounted for 27.7 percent of all harassment charges received by the EEOC. This was an increase compared to the period of 2014 to 2017 when the EEOC received 27,138 charges alleging sexual assault, which accounted for 24.7 percent of all received harassment charges.
Men and women are both subject to sexual harassment in the workplace, but the number of sexual harassment charges filed by women is disproportionate to those filed by men. Between 2017 and 2021, 78.2 percent of sexual harassment charges filed with the EEOC were filed by women.
Most Common Sexual Harassment Issues
Sexual harassment in the workplace often involves other types of mistreatment. Between the years of 2018 and 2021, the five most common issues alleged with sexual harassment charges were:
- Discharge - reported in 48.3 percent of cases
- Harassment (non-sexual) - reported in 33.2 percent of cases
- Terms/conditions - reported in 32.5 percent of cases
- Constructive discharge - reported in 20.9 percent of cases
- Discipline - reported in 10.3 percent of cases
Contact Us
Workplace sexual harassment is illegal, but unfortunately, it is not uncommon. If you are one of the thousands of workers who have been victims of sexual harassment, attorney Gregory Thyberg can help you hold liable employers accountable for related damages. To discuss the details of your case, contact our law firm online or call (916) 204-9173 and request a consultation.
