A national survey by ClickJobs.io shows a staggering 42 percent admit to working in a toxic workplace.
A third of employees (31%) stated they have witnessed sexist behaviour.
Also, 17 percent had seen sexual harassment taking place in their workplace.
Bullying (42%), offensive comments (37%) and discrimination (31%) topped the list of inappropriate behaviours that employees witnessed in the UK.
The survey painted a stark picture of the modern workplace and highlighted that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done by employers and HR departments to ensure these toxic behaviours are removed.
Harassment
Danielle Oakley, Associate Director of HR Advice and Consultancy at Peninsula, says it’s important to remember that what is just a joke to some people could cause great offense to others.
“In the workplace, it’s important to remember that there is a fine line between where a joke ends, and harassment starts. Employers need to be conscious of inappropriate remarks being utilised in the workplace and ensure that any “banter” or “jokes” do not create an uncomfortable or offensive environment for any staff member.
“What one employee understands as banter can easily be considered as bullying or harassment even if it is not intended that way.
“Having clear policies and having a zero-tolerance communication on workplace bullying, harassment and discrimination can help protect organisations against claims, as can regular staff training and a culture more focused on professionalism.
“Ultimately, any sexist or misogynistic conduct will likely be unfair and could lead to discrimination or constructive dismissal claims being raised.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
