One in seven Australian adults admits to sexual harassment using technology at work, new study finds

The first national survey into workplace technology-based sexual harassment (WTFSH) reveals one in seven Australian adults surveyed admit to having experienced this form of sexual harassment at work. Became.

Workplace technology-based sexual harassment includes unwanted or harassing sexual conduct using mobile, online, or digital technology within the work environment. This includes a wide range of behaviors and can occur during or after work hours.

The research was led by Australia's National Research Organization for Women's Safety (ANROWS) and was conducted in collaboration with Associate Professor Asher Flynn from Monash University and Professor Anastasia Powell from RMIT University. The study highlights the role of gender in WTFSH practices, with 24% of men surveyed admitting to using technology for sexual harassment at work, compared to 7% of women. It becomes.

Other key findings include:

• Almost half (45%) of WTFSH perpetrators worked in male-dominated workplaces.
• Perpetrators minimized the seriousness of WTFSH by believing that the victim/survivor was “okay” (52%), flattering (45%), or humorous (42%). Others said they would like to pursue a sexual or personal relationship with a victim-survivor (41%).
• One in four perpetrators intend to embarrass (31%), humiliate (30%), frighten (30%), hurt feelings (30%), or harm the victim-survivor. (31%) reported having malicious intent aimed at expressing anger toward a survivor.
• People surveyed were more than 15 times more likely to engage in WTFSH if they held strong sexist and discriminatory attitudes, making these attitudes the strongest predictors of such behavior. Masu.
• The most common devices and platforms at WTFSH include: work email (31%), personal phone or mobile phone (29%), personal email (27%), work phone or mobile phone (25%) ) was included.
• Despite the prevalence of WTFSH, less than half (39%) of perpetrators received a formal report or complaint.

Dr Asher Flynn, Associate Professor of Criminology at Monash University, highlighted the importance of this finding.

“These findings highlight the pervasive nature of technology-facilitated sexual harassment in the workplace, revealing not only its extent but also the problematic attitudes and motivations behind such behavior. It is essential that we address these issues comprehensively to promote a safer and more respectful work environment for everyone.'' Associate Professor Flynn said.

Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine, CEO of ANROWS, explained how new technology in the workplace is creating new avenues for abuse.

“The need to address this sexual harassment gap is becoming increasingly urgent. Employers must embed safety into their workplace culture and technology to protect their employees. Policymakers as well must prioritize the implementation of effective measures to prevent and address these practices,” Dr Boyd said. -Cain.

This report is one of the first from ANROWS' Sexual Harassment Research Program (SHRP) and provides key insights to help Australian employers and policy makers effectively combat technology-based sexual harassment in the workplace. I will provide a.