Are you being harassed at work? Here's what you can do

While workplace harassment encompasses a broad range of issues, it can be summarized as any act of discrimination or abuse (emotional or physical) based on race, color, religion, gender, nationality or physical attributes. Though women are commonly portrayed as key victims of workplace harassment, men too are subjected to it.

A common yet underreported occurrence in Asia

Despite the recent increase of media attention on the issue in Asia, the reality is that most of us tend to turn a blind eye to such occurrences, or just shrug it off to avoid the risk of termination.

A 2008 study conducted by AWARE  "” Singapore's leading gender equality advocacy group "” found that, "54.4% of the 500 respondents had experienced some form of sexual harassment, with 12% of those who had been harassed having received threats of termination if they did not comply with the requests of the harassers."Â The report also documented both sexes being victimized, despite women being primary targets (79%) compared to 21% male victims.

This tendency for victims to resign themselves to the situation can be explained by the lack of enforced legislation coupled with a general lack of commitment by companies in Asia to promote harassment-free work environments. According to the 2012 Workplace Sexual Harassment Study by AWARE, while Singapore is one of the "Top 12 Countries for Business" in Bloomberg's 2012 list, it is also the only country in the list without specific legislation that deals with workplace sexual harassment.

Even in countries with proper legislation such as China, with the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interests of Women which prohibits sexual harassment against women, a 2013 study on workplace sexual harassment revealed that over 70% of female workers surveyed had been victimised at least once in their lives (source: The Asia Foundation ). Locally, there are laws in place that protect the victims and punishes the perpetrators. Our Revised Penal Code has the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC) Act, also known as Republic Act (RA) 9262, as well as RA 7877, otherwise known as the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995. Please refer to our footnotes to know more about these laws.

It's time to stand up for your rights

Let the offender know how you feel

It can be a sensitive subject to broach, but in cases of mild harassment, the easiest way to resolve the situation is to approach the offending individual directly and inform them of your discomfort with their behavior. Alternatively, you could also discuss the matter with your superior or direct line manager, if that's less awkward.

Escalate the matter to your HR

If the situation is more severe in nature, or the perpetrator happens to be your immediate superior, escalate the matter to your Human Resources Department or your superior's boss.

Contact human rights or gender equality advocacy groups

In the event that you've done the above but don't receive the support you need and/or face the risk of termination, look at contacting human rights or advocacy groups to explore your legal options.

Still no help? Leave the job

If you've explored all options available but don't see any change in the situation, there is only last resort open to you: get another job. It's easier said than done, but it boils down to a simple question "”Âwill working there cause prolonged mental and emotional distress, not to mention adverse effects on your physical health due to stress? If yes, it's really not worth it.

You have a right to work in a safe environment, free from discrimination and abuse. Stand up for your rights. The law is on your side.



For additional reading:

Women vs. Sexual Harassment: Here are the laws you should know What to Do If You Are a Victim of Sexual Harassment




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