Synopsis.docx

Synopsis The effect of sexual harassment on workplace relationship

Introduction Unwelcome and unwanted conduct of a sexual nature is an age-old problem. For the majority of victims, at least for those who have made their situation known, their complaints or cries for help have typically been ignored, trivialized, or denied. The term ‘sexual harassment’ as a descriptor for this conduct was only coined in the 1970s. Since then the issue has become a recognised phenomenon throughout the world in all cultural and occupational contexts. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), sexual harassment is a clear form of gender discrimination based on sex, a manifestation of unequal power relations between men and women. The problem relates not so much to the actual biological differences between men and women – rather, it relates to the gender or social roles attributed to men and women in social and economic life, and perceptions about male and female sexuality in society that can lead to unbalanced male-female power relationships. As increasing numbers of women have joined the labour force over the last 3 decades, what has also increased is their vulnerability to unwanted attention at the workplace. Today, the problem of sexual harassment in workplaces is acknowledged as a serious issue – as an occupational hazard and a violation of human rights. The ILO has called it a violation of the fundamental rights of workers, a safety and health hazard, a problem of discrimination, an unacceptable working condition, and a form of violence, usually against women workers. Although both men and women can be subjected to sexual harassment, quantitative and qualitative research shows that women are much more likely to be victims and men perpetrators in societies globally. Beyond the harmful effects sexual harassment can have on workers, it also carries negative implications for the corporation/enterprise. It leads to workplace tensions, which in turn can impede team work and performance, and encourage absenteeism, all of which ultimately lowers productivity. The organization stands to lose valuable employees with otherwise good work performance, and could suffer from a negative public image should victims go public with their

situations. There is also a financial risk in the form of lawsuits and payment of damages and fines.

Statement of the problem Workplace sexual harassment is a relatively new concern in most Asian countries. Advocates against sexual harassment suggest that in the more traditional and conservative societies of Asia, victims may be reluctant to come forward with complaints or confront their harassers because they may be shy or ashamed, fearful of retaliation, or may not know what to do about it. Often victims also may not even know that what is happening to them is sexual harassment, considering it just part and parcel of working life. Apologists tend to label sexual harassment as a Western phenomenon, or they downplay its existence, describing the problem as more often that of ‘miscommunication’ rather than a real intent to harass. Whatever the case, the issue has undeniably become more prominent in the last decade, thanks to the efforts of civil society groups and the media, and pressure from international organizations. While there are still no binding international standards that specifically mention sexual harassment, a growing list of countries have taken legislative action to recognise it as abusive behaviour, and to punish and prevent it.

Research Methodology In this study, a questionnaire as the quantitative research is employed to collect data from the various employees working in different sectors. Primary data was used for the study. The primary data were collected from the respondents based on structured questionnaire.

Research Objective The objective of this study is to examine the impact of sexual harassment on workplace relationship.

Limitations of the study The limitations of the study were the respondents were not open about the questions asked in questionnaire. Respondents were hesitant towards their views. The research was not related with respect to a particular industry.