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#BalanceTonAgency, #HarcèlementAuTravail… Accusations of harassment are increasing on social networks. A subject that companies, concerned about their image, take very seriously. But they are confronted with the ignorance of French employees concerning harassment at work. Only 14% of them say they are “very well” informed about it, according to a new survey.
The Ipsos institute carried out this barometer for Qualisocial with 2000 French people working in a private or public structure of at least five people. It turns out that 44% of them believe that they are not well informed on the subject of harassment at work. However, three-quarters of respondents say they have already paid the price during their career.
This lack of information prevents most employees from identifying what does or does not constitute harassment. Especially since labor law is changing to put an end to inappropriate behavior, which is still too widespread in companies. Thus, sexist remarks or remarks with a sexual connotation can be qualified as sexual harassment since March 31, the date of entry into force of law n ° 2021-1018 of August 2, 2021.
But too few professionals are aware of this article and all the others listed in the labor code, as revealed by the new Qualisocial barometer. The company submitted to the panel of respondents situations relating to harassment in the workplace, asking them whether these actions were criminally reprehensible. For example, can we speak of harassment if a superior offers a promotion to his subordinate, in exchange for a sexual favour? Yes. Even if he only did it once? The answer remains the same.
Good in your body, good in your head!
Managers so little informed about harassment
Nearly four out of ten employees have an “almost zero” level on the subject. Contrary to what one might think, employers do not fare any better than their employees. They are even less successful in identifying situations involving harassment than the average, which shows the importance of training and prevention campaigns in companies. They are all the more important as 36% of managers think they have already been perpetrators of harassment in their career.
Another observation: practices aimed at raising awareness of harassment at work and dealing with it remain relatively uncommon. Only 31% of the employees questioned declare that there is communication aimed at employees on what harassment is. However, employers must take all necessary measures to prevent acts of harassment, including sexual harassment. Since January 1, 2019, companies with at least 250 employees and the staff representatives of the CSEs of companies with 11 to 250 employees must in particular appoint referents in terms of sexist behavior.
“The results of this survey show that this is not enough. We are campaigning for information campaigns and broader training in companies with the communication of the care process in a clear and simple way (reporting, investigation, decision). This is a major challenge for companies which must take up these expectations at the highest level… as the impact on the work collective is deleterious and the image risk major.“said Camy Puech, CEO of Qualisocial, in a press release.