In an impassioned call for sweeping change, activists are relentlessly pushing for equality, demanding respect for human dignity, and striving to create safe office environments where sexual exploitation and harassment are non-existent. This fervor follows a revealing survey that highlighted a disturbing reality: one-quarter of office workers have witnessed some form of sexual harassment at their workplace.
The ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation, along with its dedicated allies, isn’t mincing words when it comes to tackling this scourge. “We utterly condemn any actions that pave the way for sexual harassment in the office,” declared Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, the foundation’s resolute director. “It’s high time we forged a new societal norm where sexual abuse is eradicated,” he emphasized.
A groundbreaking survey conducted by the foundation in collaboration with Nida Poll, canvassed the experiences of 2,000 workers, aged over 20, spanning state agencies, enterprises, and private companies, between May 9-16. The data is grim: 23.5% of participants admitted to witnessing acts of sexual harassment in their workplace, and a sobering 6.3% reported having been harassed themselves.
The forms of harassment vary but remain deeply troubling. About half of the respondents endured verbal harassment, and a staggering 86.2% were subjected to inappropriate, lustful glances. Disturbingly, nearly 3% of workers had co-workers making unwanted, intimate advances towards them.
When delving into physical harassment, the numbers paint a harrowing picture. An alarming 70.8% of respondents recounted being inappropriately touched on the body, hands, shoulders, or back. Furthermore, 66.7% felt sexually threatened when a co-worker invaded their personal space. Shockingly, 4.2% reported being forcibly kissed, and another 4.2% were coerced into having sex with a colleague or superior.
Technology misuse is also rampant, with 62.5% of those harassed receiving sexually suggestive text messages. Equally appalling, 25% were bombarded with sexually explicit video clips, and 12.5% received unwanted photos of private parts.
The survey unveiled that the primary perpetrators are often those considered close within the workplace hierarchy. The breakdown is eye-opening: 81.75% pointed to colleagues, 16.7% to superiors or bosses, 8.7% to clients, 5.6% to subordinates, and 3.2% to business owners or executives.
Addressing preventive and corrective measures, respondents had clear preferences. A firm 33.5% called for punitive actions against the wrongdoers, 30.4% advocated for robust preventive measures, and 25.8% sought a direct and safe channel to lodge complaints with company boards.
However, the response to harassment incidents highlights a stark issue: 38.1% of victims did nothing, 33.3% directly confronted their harasser, a tiny 3.2% sought help from those nearby, and less than 3% filed formal complaints to authorities.
“We must acknowledge that sexual abuse can infiltrate any environment. Therefore, we are urging all stakeholders to unite in a powerful stand against all forms of sexual harassment. Together, we can reshape societal norms to forge an abuse-free future where mutual respect reigns supreme,” Mr. Pongthep passionately concluded.
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