New data indicates that more than a quarter of women in the UK have encountered harassment at work, with one in seven subjected to unwanted sexual behaviour, underscoring a persistent issue across workplaces. WalkSafe, a safety platform established following the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, has published statistics revealing a concerning trend of threatening behaviour in professional settings.
The findings show that over the past five years, 27 per cent of women and 16 per cent of men have experienced workplace harassment. Additionally, 14 per cent reported incidents of sexual harassment, and 16 per cent have considered leaving their jobs due to such experiences. In London, nearly a quarter of women (22 per cent) reported workplace harassment, while one in nine (11 per cent) faced unwanted sexual advances.
This situation arises as more than half of employees feel that companies should increase efforts to ensure their safety at work, with 82 per cent expressing a desire for the ability to report crime or community issues within their workplace. Emma Kay, founder of WalkSafe, stated: “This new research just shows that harassment in the workplace, especially for women, is at alarmingly high levels and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
The government is currently exploring additional measures to prevent harassment and foster safer environments, in alignment with the new Workers’ Protection Act. Under this Act, employers are legally required to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of employees. Employment Tribunals have also been empowered to increase compensation by up to 25 per cent if an employer is found to have breached this duty.
Despite these measures, the WalkSafe survey suggests that many individuals are not reporting their concerns. Over one in ten have wanted to alert a manager about harassment but have refrained from doing so. Nine per cent did not report sexual harassment because they believed they would not be taken seriously or cared for.
The report highlights that over half of workers would prefer an anonymous reporting system to notify businesses of unwanted behaviour. Fifty-four per cent would be more inclined to report inappropriate conduct if they could do so anonymously. In response, WalkSafe has launched a new ‘anonymous check-in’ tool to assist HR teams in addressing workplace harassment before it escalates.
The discreet reporting feature, WalkSafe Pro Prevent, offers employees a secure method to voice concerns early, helping companies protect their staff, prevent scandals, and avoid costly legal actions. Kay explained: “WalkSafe Pro Prevent helps companies comply with the recent Workers Protection Legislation, and is a valuable benefit for employees, building a strong company culture with a reputation for prioritising wellbeing and employee safety.” She added that WalkSafe Pro provides HR managers and companies with an early warning of developing harassment issues, enabling them to address these concerns before they escalate into formal complaints, thus avoiding negative PR and lawsuits.
