It seems that, in many ways, society has come a long way over the past few decades. Unfortunately, there are still some areas in need of much progress. Sexual harassment in the workplace is still prevalent in today’s culture. In fact, the number of sexual harassment cases filed has remained remarkably consistent since the 1990s. Several different reasons for this issue have been proposed. It is possible that there are more reports because people have a better understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment. Additionally, new developments in social media technology allow more opportunity for inappropriate behavior.
Rates of Sexual Harassment Claims
In 1992, there were 10,532 sexual harassment cases filed. The number of cases hit a peak of 15,889 in 1997 and have declined slightly since then. Last year, 12,860 sexual harassment cases were filed. This number has remained high despite numerous advances in workplace education and laws regarding behavior in the workplace.
There are several potential reasons why sexual harassment rates are still so high. Some have theorized that more suits are being filed because employees now have a better understanding of what sexual harassment is. Furthermore, advances in gender equality in the workplace has empowered more victims to report sexual misconduct. As evidence of this, there has been a higher proportion of men filing sexual harassment suits. In 1992, men filed 9.1 percent of all sexual harassment charges; in 2016, it was 16.6 percent. Additionally, explicit jokes or comments on social networks or in emails have become one of the most common new forms of sexual harassment, which may account for the recent frequency of issues.
What Modern Sexual Harassment Looks Like
Sexual harassment has remained a problem partly because employees are often too intimidated to report and follow up with legal action. In a workplace where sexual harassment goes unchecked, such behavior can increase in intensity and frequency. The problem is only compounded when employers facing accusations take retaliatory actions toward those who are brave enough to report their bad behavior.
Philadelphia Sexual Harassment Lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates P.C. Fight for Victims of Sexual Harassment
For a multitude of reasons, a sexual harassment claim made against an employer can be an intimidating prospect. Fortunately, the Philadelphia sexual harassment lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates P.C. are prepared to help. To schedule a consultation, call us at 215-569-1999 or contact us online. From our offices in Center City Philadelphia, we serve clients in Pennsylvania, South Jersey, and New York.
