Survey: 21% Have Experienced Sexual Harassment

T­­­wenty-one percent of Americans say they have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace: 27% of women and 14% of men say they have experienced sexual harassment at work. Among the 24% of Americans working in the gig economy, 30% of them say they have experienced sexual harassment at work.

These are some of the many findings from the recently released Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: #metoo, women, men and the gig economy report from theMarketplace-Edison Research Poll.

In early 2018, shortly after the #metoo movement gained momentum, Edison Research and Marketplace fielded the latest iteration of the Marketplace-Edison Research poll. This study asked a module of questions about sexual harassment in the workplace, and the results provide valuable insights into this issue among American workers.

“The Marketplace-Edison Research Poll has provided unique insights into the lives of the American population for several years, and we recognize the importance of addressing this issue through the survey for the first time,” said Edison Research President Larry Rosin.

Other key findings include:

• Among those who have experienced sexual harassment at work, 50% of women and 64% of men agree that the harassment in the workplace hurt their career.
• Fifty-two percent of those who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace say they made a job change because of the harassment.
• Forty-six percent of women and 64% of men who have experienced sexual harassment at work agree they changed jobs because of the harassment.
• Only 25% of women who experienced sexual harassment in the workplace strongly agree they could report an incident to their employers without fear. Forty-one percent of men who experienced sexual harassment in the workplace strongly agree they could report an incident to their employers without fear.
• Of those who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, women are less likely than men to strongly agree that the incident was handled properly by their employer. Only 30% of women and 53% of men strongly agre e that their employer handled the incident properly.

Those in rural areas are more likely to have experienced incidents of sexual harassment at work than those in other areas. Twenty-six percent of those in rural areas, compared to 21% in urban and 18% in suburban areas, have been sexually harassed at work.

How the study was conducted:

Edison Research conducted a national survey of the United States population aged 18 and older. There were 1,044 interviews conducted via landline pho ne, cell phone, and online. Interviews specific to the topic of sexual harassment were conducted from February 14, 2018 to February 20, 2018.