Women leadership and sexual harassment in the workplace

Categorized Under:

To anyone in the workforce at any level who is paying attention, it is obvious that gender politics play an important role. With the emergence of the #MeToo movement, the deeper and more disturbing issue of sexual harassment in the workplace have been brought to the forefront, as well. As a law firm, we have been on the forefront of helping women who have suffered sexual harassment and other forms of harassment and mistreatment in the workplace. Our white paper (Fighting Back: The Changing Landscape of Workplace Harassment) discusses this issue at length, and anyone who has experienced harassment should fight back.

The Global Issue

Although legal representation is critical at the individual level, it does dismiss or discredit the importance of handling the problem on a more global level. Yes, a lawsuit does put employers, bosses and male colleagues on alert and can make the workplace somewhat safer, but what can be done to make women feel more connected, safe and empowered in the workplace?

Power in Numbers

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, one of the most important factors for women feeling safe and empowered in the workplace is other women in similar positions with them.

This is particularly important at the higher levels of leadership. It seems that the higher a woman goes up the corporate ladder, the less female colleagues she will find around her at the same level.

“While women and men enter the workforce in roughly equal numbers, women fall behind in promotions from the very first step onto the management ladder… By the senior-manager level, men outnumber women two to one, and in the C-suite, just 22% are women.”

The point is this: the fewer women around, the more susceptible they are to harassment from their male colleagues. Thus, if companies want to help their female employees be safe and protected in the workplace, they need to provide more equal opportunities for their female employees in the area of advancement.

Only when employers begin implementing more equitable advancement practices will women be truly safe and empowered in American workplaces.


In:

This is attorney advertising. These posts are written on behalf of Law Offices of Todd M. Friedman, P.C. and are intended solely as informational content. These blogs in no way provide specific or actionable legal advice, nor does your use of or engagement with this site establish any attorney-client relationship. Please read the disclaimer

More Insights from the TMF Blog

Employee Rights>Wrongful Termination

Wrongful Constructive Discharge: Are You Being Forced Out?

Losing a job is never easy, but what if you weren’t technically fired? What if your employer made your work environment so unbearable that ...

Forced Retirement: When Is It Age Discrimination?

Age discrimination in the workplace is a serious and widespread issue, particularly when it comes to forced retirement. While some companies implement mandatory retirement ...
Employment Law

Wages vs. Hourly Rates: How Payment Differs for Employees and Contractors

Understanding the difference between wages and hourly rates is essential for workers and businesses alike. While both involve compensation for labor, the way payment ...

Book a Free Case Review

We fearlessly and tenaciously represent employees and consumers in California, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Tell us the issues you're facing, and we'll tell you what the options are.