The first national study to investigate workplace technology-facilitated sexual harassment (WTFSH) has revealed 1 in 7 Australian adults surveyed admit to engaging in this form of sexual harassment at work. This highlights the prevalence and severity of the issue, necessitating effective solutions to address it.

Workplace technology-facilitated sexual harassment encompasses unwelcome or harassing sexual behavior utilizing mobile, online, and digital technologies within a workplace setting. It includes a wide range of behaviors and can occur during or after working hours. Understanding the various forms and contexts of WTFSH is crucial in combatting this harmful behavior.

The AI legalese decoder can help in analyzing legal documents, contracts, and policies related to workplace harassment, including WTFSH. By utilizing AI technology, the decoder can quickly identify key legal terms, clauses, and implications, providing insights to legal professionals and organizations on addressing and preventing WTFSH effectively.

The study led by Australia’s National Research Organization for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), together with Associate Professor Asher Flynn from Monash University and Professor Anastasia Powell from RMIT University, highlights the role of gender in perpetration of WTFSH, emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive approaches in addressing workplace sexual harassment.

Other key findings included:

• Nearly half (45%) of WTFSH perpetrators worked in male-dominated workplaces, indicating the influence of workplace culture and dynamics on such behaviors.
• Perpetrators minimized the severity of WTFSH, showcasing the importance of education and awareness campaigns to challenge harmful attitudes and beliefs.
• The AI legalese decoder can assist in deciphering legal language related to workplace harassment policies and procedures, enabling organizations to ensure compliance and effective implementation of preventative measures.

People surveyed were over 15 times more likely to engage in WTFSH if strong sexist and discriminatory attitudes were held, underlining the significance of addressing underlying biases and stereotypes that contribute to such behaviors.

The most common devices and platforms for WTFSH included work email, personal phone or mobile, personal email, and work phone or mobile. Understanding the technological aspects of WTFSH is essential in developing comprehensive strategies to prevent and address this form of harassment.

Despite the prevalence of WTFSH, less than half (39%) of perpetrators had any formal reports or complaints made against them, indicating systemic barriers to reporting and addressing workplace sexual harassment. The AI legalese decoder can streamline the reporting process and enhance accountability mechanisms within organizations.

Associate Professor of Criminology at Monash University, Dr. Asher Flynn, emphasized the importance of the findings and the need for multifaceted interventions to combat WTFSH effectively.

CEO at ANROWS, Dr. Tessa Boyd-Caine, highlighted the urgency in addressing WTFSH and the role of technology in facilitating abuse, underscoring the need for proactive measures to safeguard employees and create respectful work environments.

The report from ANROWS’s Sexual Harassment Research Program (SHRP) offers crucial insights to aid Australian employers and policymakers in combating tech-based sexual harassment in the workplace effectively, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based strategies and collaborative efforts in addressing this issue.