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February 20, 2007
One in Three Reports Sexual Remarks in Workplace
BOSTON, February 20, 2007 — One
in three employees heard a sexually inappropriate comment
made in the workplace last year, according to a national
telephone survey by Novations Group, a global consulting
organization based in Boston. Overheard by 34% of
employees, improper sexual remarks were the most frequent
type of ridicule followed by ethnic and racial slurs, which
were reported by 30% and 26% respectively.
Men were twice as likely as women to hear any kind of
workplace ridicule, but especially sexual comments where
the gap was 44% to 22%.
Did you hear one or more colleagues at work do
any of the following during 2006?
| |
% Yes
|
| |
Total
|
Men
|
Women
|
| Make a sexually inappropriate comment |
34%
|
44%
|
22%
|
| Use an ethnic slur |
30%
|
39%
|
20%
|
| Use a racial slur |
26%
|
32%
|
18%
|
| Ridicule someone based on their age |
24%
|
30%
|
15%
|
| Ridicule someone based on their sexual
orientation
|
21%
|
25%
|
17%
|
| Ridicule someone because they are disabled
|
6%
|
9%
|
4%
|
"Some employers’ attitude seems to be boys will
be boys," said Novations Executive Consultant Tom
McKinnon. "Aside from their possible legal liability
intolerant wisecracks or banter, even if innocently
intended, are corrosive to employees’
individual’s sense of safety and acceptance. They
undermine productivity, and this ought to hit home among
senior management."
Among the survey’s other findings:
-
Ethnic slurs were more likely to be overheard by
southerners than westerners, by 37% to 21%. Likewise, 34%
of southerners reported racial slurs compared with just 16%
of westerners.
-
There were no significant differences between white and
black employees, except for sexual comments, which were
heard by 36% of whites and 25% of blacks.
-
By 34% to 11% employees 18-34 were more likely to overhear
age-related ridicule than their colleagues over 55.
-
In general, employees with more education or higher income
were less likely to hear workplace ridicule.
Novations Groups conducts the workplace ridicule survey
annually, said McKinnon. "We find consistency from
year to year, but have an obligation to help raise
awareness that ridicule and slurs aren’t funny, but
hurtful, even if the object of the humor plays along."
The national telephone phone survey of 610 employed
Americans was conducted for Novations Group February 8-12,
2007 by International Communications Research, Media, PA.
Novations Group is a leading provider of consulting and
training services on four continents and is recognized for
expertise in diversity & inclusion, employee
engagement, talent management, employee selection,
leadership development, organization communications, sales
training, customer service and project management.
Contact: Pat FitzGerald, Novations,
617-787-2163, pfitzgerald@novations.com,
or Phil Ryan, Ryan Public Relations, 845-339-7858.
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