No Safe Haven for Reporting Sexual Harassment at Work: A Qualitative Meta-synthesis

Background and Objective

Workplace sexual harassment (WSH) has become a serious and widespread workplace problem. One of the reasons why sexual harassment (SH) remains a challenging problem is that it is under-reported. In this study, we review the existing qualitative research surrounding this phenomenon in all workplaces, paying particular attention to barriers to reporting WSH.

Design

Qualitative meta-synthesis.

Data Sources

Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched to identify qualitative studies. Only articles published in English were eligible for inclusion criteria; however, no time limit was imposed. The primary data analysis included people’s experiences of reporting SH and its barriers in the workplace. Data collection was conducted from February 2023 to September 2023.

Methods

This meta-synthesis was conducted following three steps: (i) identifying published articles for inclusion and exclusion criteria, (ii) quality appraisal and data extraction, and (iii) summarizing and synthesis.

Results

The search retrieved 6065 articles, and based on the current research question and selection criteria, a total of 237 full texts were selected to enter the research. Eventually, 44 articles were selected based on the PRISMA (2020) method. Five factors were identified as barriers to reporting WSH: uncertainty of receiving legal support from the organization, the influence of reporting on employment conditions, lack of support from people around, being worried about tarnishing the social image, and internal inhibitors.

Conclusion

Understanding the experiences of women and men who are victims of WSH can help employers, managers, and all those who are somehow involved in improving the safety of the workplace. We found that regardless of what culture people belong to, they have common experiences in reporting SH. Establishing specific rules and protocols, monitoring their implementation, and raising awareness among employees and managers through training may help reduce incidents of WSH to some extent.