Sexual harassment is on the rise, say PAM members in a survey: Comments, touching and lurid images

The survey (in Finnish) reveals that sexual harassment and the threat of violence have increased at workplaces since 2015, when the last survey was carried out. 

In many service sector jobs there is a risk of being exposed to violence. The survey reveals that over half have been called names or received threats from customers over the last year. One in ten had experienced physical violence or threats with instruments (e.g. a knife).

Of those working in customer service, 57% had experienced sexual harassment in their work over the last year. Harassment was experienced by 40% of all women and 16% of men.

”These are big numbers. Everyone must have the right to do their work without harassment, insults, violence or the threat of violence”, says PAM’s working environment expert Erika Kähärä, commenting on the results of the survey.

 

Sexual harassment can even lead to people changing their job 

"A drunk middle-aged woman squeezed my crotch hard and also tried to kiss me." Security guard age: 35-44.

One in five respondents to the survey reported that they had changed sector or job because of harassment. Sexual harassment affects young people in particular. As many as 70% of those aged under 25 have experienced harassment.  But the problem affects all age groups. Sexual harassment is often directed at women, but in PAM sectors men also experience it. One in five men have been victims of harassment. 

Sexual harassment causes distress and anxiety and affects people’s own behaviour. PAM’s working environment experts are calling for more capabilities at the workplace and a change in atmosphere in order to eradicate sexual harassment: 

”Harassment situations affect employees’ working capacity. This is not a fringe benefit for certain occupations. Employers have a responsibility to put a stop to harassment, but people either don’t trust their employer or don’t dare to tell them”, says working environment expert Merja Vihersalo.
 

“When working in a café you get winked at or have to put up with suggestive remarks.” Waitress age: 35-44.

The silence must be broken and employers must take more action

People report sexual harassment to their supervisor too rarely; as many as 60% of those experiencing harassment don’t report it. According to the survey the reason is often that it is not considered reporting it would not matter or make any difference. To put this right, PAM is calling for more capabilities at the workplace to deal with situations and prevent them. 

“Reporting harassment or violence should be a matter of course and easy to do – not a long bureaucratic process where you are listened to but nothing actually happens”, Kähärä says.

Vihersalo and Kähärä believe that the legislation in this area is fairly sound. But in their view workplaces don’t have the expertise and supervisors are often not well placed to deal with or prevent harassment situations.

“For this reason employers’ skills requirements – for example training obligations for occupational safety and health managers – should be increased.” 
 

Trade union agreements and guidelines can help to prepare and rectify situations

“Suggestive comments delivered with a smirk. You generally get this from men in higher pay grades, who obviously think it’s their right." 
Sales assistant age: 45-54. 

The results of the survey also reveal that the #metoo campaign, which highlighted people’s experiences of sexual harassment, has not had an effect in service sectors. 92% of respondents think that #metoo has not affected customers’ behaviour. 

Collective agreements can also help to address harassment from customers and protect workers from it. PAM and the Finnish Commerce Federation agreed to produce guidelines for small and medium-size companies to prepare for harassment from customers. 

“Supervisors cannot always be present, so employees must be given authority to protect themselves, for example by threatening to stop serving the customer. We need to get away from the idea that the customer is always right and customers need to be held on to even at the expense of protecting the employee.”, Kähärä says.

PAM for its part provides basic and advanced courses for occupational safety and health representatives and shop stewards, as staff representatives, to identify and eradicate harassment. Harassment is banned in the collective agreements negotiated by PAM and the employers’ federations for the hospitality and commerce sectors, cinema employees, golf, bingo and Finnish National Theatre technical staff. 

Take a closer look at the survey (in Finnish):