Employees who are sexually harassed experience less job satisfaction and lower job performance
November 20, 2008A new study in the journal Psychology of Women Quarterly examined the effects of workplace sexual harassment and found that employees who were harassed report lower levels of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and job performance. Employees also experienced higher levels of psychological distress and physical problems than those who were not harassed.
Darius K-S Chan, Chun Bun Lam, Suk Yee Chow, and Shu Fai Cheung examined the job-related, psychological, and physical outcomes of sexual harassment in the workplace. Using some statistical techniques, the researchers analyzed findings from 49 studies on workplace harassment, with a total sample size of 89,382 people, to investigate the effects of sexual harassment and job-related outcomes. The sample consisted of employees from different countries, with Americans being the vast majority.
Female employees did not appear to be more strongly impacted than males. However, age did play a role. Sexual harassment experiences were found to be more consistently tied to job-related outcomes, psychological well-being, and physical health among younger employees than older employees.
"An accurate understanding of sexual harassment outcomes sustains organizational efforts directed at preventive information and legislation," the authors conclude. "Our results provide solid information for organizations to address the issue of sexual harassment."
Source: Wiley-Blackwell
Nov 17, 2008 |
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Anyway, since this nightmare has consumed my life for the past several months and will likely consume my life, time, and attention for the next several months, I figured I might as well try to make something positive come out of all of this.
WHO AM I?
Despite my moniker, I am actually an honest to goodness writer/scholar:
I have a B.A. in Professional Writing from Penn State, Summa Cum Laude, 2008.
I received the Penn State Professional Writing Program Achievement Award, 2008.
I was a news writer and copy editor for the Penn State Collegian.
I was published in New York Newsday at age 12.
THE PROJECT
By the end of this year, I should receive my M.A. in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook (I would like to go onto the Ph.D. after that). However, I must complete a research paper/project. For my project, I am considering a study of individuals experiences with sexual harassment, company policies regarding sexual harassment (both written policy and what is actually done, often two very different things!), the application of the law, the inefficiency of current laws, the differing verbal/nonverbal communication styles of men and women in the workplace and how this can lead to sexual harassment, etc.
I would like to collect and examine stories of sexual harassment from women (and men), preferably current situations or situations which have occurred within the last 5 years.
WHY SHOULD YOU BOTHER TO HELP ME?
1. I am a Humanities/Social Sciences grad student. Everyone knows that such academic pursuits are strictly labors of love and as such, students in these pursuits deserve to be pitied and helped. Besides, maybe I can get my research paper published (not for profit, of course), and we all have an obligation to help push knowledge forward.
2. Sharing your story would likely be cathartic for you as well as for me.
I will likely be collecting stories until 9/2009 or 10/2009, since my paper will be due 12/2009. If you think you have a story you would like to share with me, please email me: agirlandherjob@gmail.com
Thanks! Love yas!