Many organizations have worked hard to protect both their employees and their companies from denunciar acoso laboral allegations by addressing the issue at its root. The first step in preventing sexual harassment at your workplace is undeniably understanding how it begins and what the risk factors are. Start the conversation in your workplace today, rather than waiting until it’s too late. Still not convinced? The numbers, after all, speak for themselves. For example, up to 85% of women report having experienced sexual harassment at work at some point during their careers.

Individuals who experience sexual harassment in their lives may suffer long-term consequences. Many victims of sexual harassment experience emotional, physical, and mental health issues long after the incident. The types of effects to look out for are listed below. If you notice any of these in a coworker, you should speak with them. Alternatively, if you witness sexual harassment, use your voice as a bystander to assist in removing the victim from the situation.

1. Sexual harassment’s emotional consequences:

– Anger
– Fear
– Humiliation
– Shame/Guilt
– Powerlessness
– Betrayal/Violation

2. Sexual harassment’s mental health consequences:

-Anxiety
– Depression
– PTSD
– Anxiety attacks
– Motivational decline and difficulty concentrating
– Substance abuse problems
– Suicidal ideation

3. Sexual harassment has the following physical consequences:

– Workplace stress has increased.
– Sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality
– Headaches and exhaustion
– Disturbances in eating

Sexual harassment has far-reaching consequences in the workplace. The movement toward greater workplace transparency, safety, and sexual harassment awareness is an ongoing one. There are numerous reports on the financial consequences of workplace sexual harassment claims. The average cost of ignoring sexual harassment allegations is $6.7 million per year. Furthermore, sexual harassment complaints filed with the EEOC cost organizations $46 million in 2015, not including monetary damages awarded through litigation. The discussion about the financial effects on organizations begs the question, “What else can we do to prevent sexual harassment in our workplaces?”