In a poll conducted last week by the TUC, almost two-thirds of women aged between 25 and 34 reported that they had experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse at work.

Disturbingly, most of these cases were not isolated incidents. More than three in five women said they had experienced three or more bullying incidents at work, while two in five had experienced at least three incidents of sexual harassment.  

The poll also found that in two out of five of the most recent incidents, the perpetrator was a third party rather than another staff member. Younger women are particularly at risk of this kind of harassment. Half of women aged 18 to 34 said they had experienced harassment from a third party at work. 

The vast majority of sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse reported by women happened at work in work premises, but they also happened on the phone, by text and online, by email, on social media or during a virtual meeting.

In reporting these incidents, however, the TUC poll found that less than one in three women who had experienced sexual harassment at work told their employer about what was happening. Only two in five of those being bullied and half of those who had experienced verbal abuse reported it. 

Just over a third of those who didn’t report it felt they would not be believed or taken seriously. In contrast, others thought reporting it would negatively impact their relationships at work or their career prospects.

Despite these findings, some Conservative MPs and Lords are trying to sabotage a private member’s bill, which is currently making its way through the House of Lords to protect workers from sexual harassment and assault. 

The Worker Protection Bill, put forward by Wera Hobhouse MP with ministers’ support, would introduce a new preventative duty on employers to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace. It would also protect workers from harassment and abuse by third parties like customers or clients.  

However, the TUC is concerned that the wrecking amendments put down by backbenchers in the Lords may mean the bill runs out of time.

The polling was carried out for the TUC by Opinium. They surveyed 1,010 working women in the UK aged over 18 between 20 and 26 April 2023.

To read the results in more detail, click here. Â