GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sexual Harassment At Work Statistics

Workplace sexual harassment remains a widespread crisis impacting countless employees.

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

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Statistic 1

69% of victims experience mental health decline post-harassment

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45% of harassed workers suffer productivity loss

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38% report PTSD symptoms after workplace harassment

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Annual economic cost: $16.6 billion in absenteeism

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52% of victims change jobs within a year

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Depression rates double among harassed employees

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61% experience sleep disturbances

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Suicide ideation rises 25% post-incident

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53% of victims have anxiety disorders post-harassment

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Turnover costs employers $2.6 billion yearly

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47% physical health complaints increase

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36% alcohol/substance use rises

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Relationship breakdowns in 29% of cases

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Career stagnation for 44% victims

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71% loss of trust in management

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Only 14% of incidents result in discipline

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66% chronic stress leads to burnout

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31% require therapy post-incident

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Lawsuits cost firms avg $125K each

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57% decreased job satisfaction

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24% hospitalizations linked to stress

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Innovation drops 22% in affected teams

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68% bystander guilt affects morale

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72% of women under 30 report workplace harassment

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Women aged 18-24 are 2x more likely to experience harassment at work

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90% of female victims are harassed by male perpetrators

Statistic 27

LGBTQ+ workers face 50% higher harassment rates

Statistic 28

45% of Black women report racialized sexual harassment at work

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Men over 50 experience 15% lower harassment rates

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Immigrant women face 2.5x harassment risk

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55% of female managers report peer harassment

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Disabled women encounter 30% more harassment

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Single mothers report 40% higher incidents

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Hispanic women report 50% rates in service jobs

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Transgender employees face 90% harassment

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62% of young women (18-34) harassed by superiors

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Asian American women: 35% microaggressions with harassment

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Rural women 20% higher risk due to isolation

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Female veterans report 41% military-to-civilian transition harassment

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Low-income women: 65% lifetime workplace incidents

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Married women report 25% less but still significant

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Older women (45+) report 28% rates

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Native American women: 55% in service industries

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49% bisexual women targeted

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High school educated women 45% risk

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Female interns: 70% harassed

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Unionized women report 20% less

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Pregnant workers: 37% additional harassment

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Female entrepreneurs: 42% from clients

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Hospitality industry sees 70% female harassment victims

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Healthcare workers report 34% harassment rate

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Tech sector has 45% unreported cases among women

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Military experiences 24% annual harassment

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Retail workers face 58% verbal harassment

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Construction industry: 74% of women harassed

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Academia sees 51% faculty harassment

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Entertainment industry: 87% women affected

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Legal field reports 35% associate harassment

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Manufacturing: 28% blue-collar women

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Education sector: 58% teachers affected

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Finance: 41% women executives harassed

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Journalism: 66% women reporters

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Non-profits: 47% staff harassment

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Transportation: 69% drivers (women) report it

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Sports industry: 79% female athletes/coaches

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Government workers: 31% federal employees

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Beauty industry: 83% stylists harassed

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Agriculture: 73% farmworkers (women)

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Energy sector: 64% rig workers (women)

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Automotive: 68% assembly line women

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Pharma: 39% lab staff

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Real estate: 52% agents

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Hospitality: 79% servers

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85% of women have experienced sexual harassment at work in their lifetime

Statistic 75

25% of women report experiencing sexual harassment weekly at work

Statistic 76

40% of female employees faced unwanted sexual attention at work

Statistic 77

77% of workers have observed sexual harassment in the workplace

Statistic 78

60% of women in professional roles report harassment incidents

Statistic 79

33% of men have also experienced workplace sexual harassment

Statistic 80

50% of harassment cases involve verbal conduct at work

Statistic 81

27% of employees faced physical sexual harassment at work

Statistic 82

1 in 3 women have quit jobs due to sexual harassment

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65% of harassment occurs during work hours

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81% of women experienced lifetime harassment with 44% at work

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35% of men witnessed harassment but didn't report

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Verbal harassment constitutes 55% of incidents

Statistic 87

29% of women experienced cyber-sexual harassment at work

Statistic 88

Over 50% of full-time staff report at least one incident

Statistic 89

43% in non-supervisory roles affected

Statistic 90

19% of women report daily micro-harassments

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Supervisors perpetrate 60% of cases

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Remote work saw 23% online harassment rise

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48% in small businesses (<50 employees)

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Night shift workers 3x more likely

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67% women in sales roles affected

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White-collar: 39%, blue-collar: 52%

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76% of harassment is repeated offenses

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Only 30% of workplace harassment is formally reported

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75% fear retaliation when reporting

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EEOC received 7,510 sexual harassment charges in FY2022

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80% of companies lack adequate training policies

Statistic 102

Successful lawsuits average $50,000 settlements

Statistic 103

60% of policies fail bystander intervention training

Statistic 104

Reporting rates doubled post-#MeToo

Statistic 105

40% of firms updated policies in 2020

Statistic 106

12% of reports lead to perpetrator dismissal

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25% of reports dismissed as unfounded

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Mandatory arbitration clauses in 60% contracts hinder reporting

Statistic 109

Post-training reporting up 15%

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85% prefer anonymous reporting systems

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NY AG office handled 1,200 complaints in 2019

Statistic 112

70% companies now have zero-tolerance policies

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Legal settlements rose 20% since 2017

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55% employees unaware of reporting procedures

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92% of Fortune 500 have policies but 50% ineffective

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18% increase in EEOC filings 2021-2022

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CA laws mandate bystander training, 65% compliance

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45% use AI for anonymous tips now

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Global ILO convention ratified by 20 countries for protections

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Sources

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Did you know that in the time it takes to finish reading this sentence, a woman somewhere will endure sexual harassment at work, an unsettling reality supported by statistics showing that 85% of women face it in their lifetime, 72% of women under 30 report it, and one in three have even quit their jobs because of it.

Key Takeaways

85% of women have experienced sexual harassment at work in their lifetime
25% of women report experiencing sexual harassment weekly at work
40% of female employees faced unwanted sexual attention at work
72% of women under 30 report workplace harassment
Women aged 18-24 are 2x more likely to experience harassment at work
90% of female victims are harassed by male perpetrators
Hospitality industry sees 70% female harassment victims
Healthcare workers report 34% harassment rate
Tech sector has 45% unreported cases among women
69% of victims experience mental health decline post-harassment
45% of harassed workers suffer productivity loss
38% report PTSD symptoms after workplace harassment
Only 30% of workplace harassment is formally reported
75% fear retaliation when reporting
EEOC received 7,510 sexual harassment charges in FY2022

Workplace sexual harassment remains a widespread crisis impacting countless employees.

Consequences and Impacts

69% of victims experience mental health decline post-harassment
45% of harassed workers suffer productivity loss
38% report PTSD symptoms after workplace harassment
Annual economic cost: $16.6 billion in absenteeism
52% of victims change jobs within a year
Depression rates double among harassed employees
61% experience sleep disturbances
Suicide ideation rises 25% post-incident
53% of victims have anxiety disorders post-harassment
Turnover costs employers $2.6 billion yearly
47% physical health complaints increase
36% alcohol/substance use rises
Relationship breakdowns in 29% of cases
Career stagnation for 44% victims
71% loss of trust in management
Only 14% of incidents result in discipline
66% chronic stress leads to burnout
31% require therapy post-incident
Lawsuits cost firms avg $125K each
57% decreased job satisfaction
24% hospitalizations linked to stress
Innovation drops 22% in affected teams
68% bystander guilt affects morale

Consequences and Impacts Interpretation

Behind the dry data lies a brutal truth: sexual harassment isn't just a HR issue, but a systemic malignancy that simultaneously destroys lives, tanks productivity, and hemorrhages money, all while being routinely ignored by the very systems designed to stop it.

Gender and Demographic Breakdowns

72% of women under 30 report workplace harassment
Women aged 18-24 are 2x more likely to experience harassment at work
90% of female victims are harassed by male perpetrators
LGBTQ+ workers face 50% higher harassment rates
45% of Black women report racialized sexual harassment at work
Men over 50 experience 15% lower harassment rates
Immigrant women face 2.5x harassment risk
55% of female managers report peer harassment
Disabled women encounter 30% more harassment
Single mothers report 40% higher incidents
Hispanic women report 50% rates in service jobs
Transgender employees face 90% harassment
62% of young women (18-34) harassed by superiors
Asian American women: 35% microaggressions with harassment
Rural women 20% higher risk due to isolation
Female veterans report 41% military-to-civilian transition harassment
Low-income women: 65% lifetime workplace incidents
Married women report 25% less but still significant
Older women (45+) report 28% rates
Native American women: 55% in service industries
49% bisexual women targeted
High school educated women 45% risk
Female interns: 70% harassed
Unionized women report 20% less
Pregnant workers: 37% additional harassment
Female entrepreneurs: 42% from clients

Gender and Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation

This collage of data paints a grimly predictable portrait: a woman’s safety at work is still largely a function of her age, her power, her identity, and who holds the keys to the break room.

Industry and Occupation Specifics

Hospitality industry sees 70% female harassment victims
Healthcare workers report 34% harassment rate
Tech sector has 45% unreported cases among women
Military experiences 24% annual harassment
Retail workers face 58% verbal harassment
Construction industry: 74% of women harassed
Academia sees 51% faculty harassment
Entertainment industry: 87% women affected
Legal field reports 35% associate harassment
Manufacturing: 28% blue-collar women
Education sector: 58% teachers affected
Finance: 41% women executives harassed
Journalism: 66% women reporters
Non-profits: 47% staff harassment
Transportation: 69% drivers (women) report it
Sports industry: 79% female athletes/coaches
Government workers: 31% federal employees
Beauty industry: 83% stylists harassed
Agriculture: 73% farmworkers (women)
Energy sector: 64% rig workers (women)
Automotive: 68% assembly line women
Pharma: 39% lab staff
Real estate: 52% agents
Hospitality: 79% servers

Industry and Occupation Specifics Interpretation

When you look past the varied veneers of industry prestige or grit, from the bright lights of Hollywood to the factory floor, the depressing truth is that for women at work, the most common occupational hazard isn't a heavy lift or a long shift—it's the unwelcome advance of a colleague.

Prevalence and Frequency

85% of women have experienced sexual harassment at work in their lifetime
25% of women report experiencing sexual harassment weekly at work
40% of female employees faced unwanted sexual attention at work
77% of workers have observed sexual harassment in the workplace
60% of women in professional roles report harassment incidents
33% of men have also experienced workplace sexual harassment
50% of harassment cases involve verbal conduct at work
27% of employees faced physical sexual harassment at work
1 in 3 women have quit jobs due to sexual harassment
65% of harassment occurs during work hours
81% of women experienced lifetime harassment with 44% at work
35% of men witnessed harassment but didn't report
Verbal harassment constitutes 55% of incidents
29% of women experienced cyber-sexual harassment at work
Over 50% of full-time staff report at least one incident
43% in non-supervisory roles affected
19% of women report daily micro-harassments
Supervisors perpetrate 60% of cases
Remote work saw 23% online harassment rise
48% in small businesses (<50 employees)
Night shift workers 3x more likely
67% women in sales roles affected
White-collar: 39%, blue-collar: 52%
76% of harassment is repeated offenses

Prevalence and Frequency Interpretation

The grim office pool where nearly everyone has been splashed by harassment reveals a broken ecosystem that forces victims to either swim in toxicity, quit the water, or hope someone finally fixes the leak.

Reporting, Policies, and Legal Actions

Only 30% of workplace harassment is formally reported
75% fear retaliation when reporting
EEOC received 7,510 sexual harassment charges in FY2022
80% of companies lack adequate training policies
Successful lawsuits average $50,000 settlements
60% of policies fail bystander intervention training
Reporting rates doubled post-#MeToo
40% of firms updated policies in 2020
12% of reports lead to perpetrator dismissal
25% of reports dismissed as unfounded
Mandatory arbitration clauses in 60% contracts hinder reporting
Post-training reporting up 15%
85% prefer anonymous reporting systems
NY AG office handled 1,200 complaints in 2019
70% companies now have zero-tolerance policies
Legal settlements rose 20% since 2017
55% employees unaware of reporting procedures
92% of Fortune 500 have policies but 50% ineffective
18% increase in EEOC filings 2021-2022
CA laws mandate bystander training, 65% compliance
45% use AI for anonymous tips now
Global ILO convention ratified by 20 countries for protections

Reporting, Policies, and Legal Actions Interpretation

The staggering reality is that while companies are busy crafting zero-tolerance policies and AI tip lines, a tangled web of fear, ineffective training, and legal loopholes ensures that most workplace harassment still thrives in the shadows, with justice remaining a costly and elusive gamble for victims.

Sources & References

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