GITNUXREPORT 2025

Workplace Sexual Harassment Statistics

Workplace sexual harassment harms employees, costs companies significantly, and remains underreported.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Workplace sexual harassment costs US companies approximately $22 billion annually in turnover, absenteeism, and productivity losses

Statistic 2

80% of sexual harassment victims said that the harassment affected their mental health

Statistic 3

56% of women who experience harassment face retaliation after reporting

Statistic 4

70% of women who experience harassment report feeling ashamed and helpless

Statistic 5

66% of victims say harassment worsens with ongoing exposure

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28% of sexual harassment victims face negative career consequences after reporting, such as being passed over for promotion

Statistic 7

33% of victims do not report harassment because they fear job loss or damage to reputation

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15% of victims report experiencing long-term psychological trauma following harassment incidents

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44% of those harassed at work say their productivity decreased as a result

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The average duration of harassment incidents reported was 10 months before reporting

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65% of victims do not seek legal action beyond their employer, citing fear or futility

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Only 10% of victims believe their employer took appropriate action

Statistic 13

Nearly 75% of women experience some form of sexual harassment at work during their careers

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60% of sexual harassment victims in the workplace are women

Statistic 15

75% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work, according to a 2018 survey

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70% of sexual harassers in workplaces are men

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41% of employees who experience harassment in the workplace are uncertain if they should report it

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25% of employees report feeling unsafe at work due to harassment

Statistic 19

66% of sexual harassment victims in the workplace are between the ages of 25-34

Statistic 20

Gender-based harassment is most prevalent in male-dominated industries like construction and finance

Statistic 21

40% of victims do not report harassment because they believe nothing will be done

Statistic 22

58% of workplace sexual harassment victims are employed in the private sector

Statistic 23

The most common form of harassment reported is verbal in nature, such as inappropriate comments or jokes

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35% of men and 70% of women believe that workplace harassment is a serious problem

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80% of sexual harassment complaints are made by women

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Over 60% of companies lack clear policies or procedures for handling harassment complaints

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45% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace

Statistic 28

52% of employees report feeling uncomfortable when colleagues make sexual jokes

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20% of harassment cases involve extortion or quid pro quo

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65% of women and 54% of men believe that workplace harassment is underreported

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Workplace sexual harassment is most commonly reported in the healthcare, education, and hospitality industries

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38% of respondents in a 2021 survey said they witnessed misconduct but did not intervene or report it

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72% of employees say they would feel comfortable reporting harassment if strong anti-retaliation policies were in place

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Women under 35 are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than women over 50

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Nearly half of workplace sexual harassment incidents involve minor physical touching or gestures

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55% of employees have experienced inappropriate physical contact at work

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Approximately 22% of sexual harassment cases involve power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim

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54% of workplaces do not provide training on sexual harassment, according to a 2020 report

Statistic 39

80% of harassment complaints in the healthcare industry are sexual in nature

Statistic 40

48% of women and 32% of men who experience harassment report feeling scared to come forward

Statistic 41

40% of victims experience harassment in every new job they take, indicating a persistent workplace issue

Statistic 42

84% of workplaces lack mandatory training programs on sexual harassment

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Almost 60% of victims say that the harassment happened more than once, indicating its repetitive nature

Statistic 44

50% of men and women surveyed believe that harassment is more common than reported

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Victims aged 18-29 are most likely to experience harassment at work, with nearly 60% reporting incidents

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54% of all harassment cases are reported by women, with men representing 46%

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35% of employees privately believe that harassment is an open secret in their workplace, not addressed publicly

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78% of younger employees (under 30) view stronger anti-harassment policies as effective deterrents

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About 81% of women who experience sexual harassment at work never report it

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Only 30% of victims file a formal complaint with their employer

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Only 22% of harassment cases result in disciplinary action

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Around 50% of sexual harassment incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation

Statistic 53

21% of harassment reports are dismissed or unresolved after investigation

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Key Highlights

Nearly 75% of women experience some form of sexual harassment at work during their careers
About 81% of women who experience sexual harassment at work never report it
60% of sexual harassment victims in the workplace are women
Only 30% of victims file a formal complaint with their employer
75% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work, according to a 2018 survey
Workplace sexual harassment costs US companies approximately $22 billion annually in turnover, absenteeism, and productivity losses
70% of sexual harassers in workplaces are men
41% of employees who experience harassment in the workplace are uncertain if they should report it
80% of sexual harassment victims said that the harassment affected their mental health
56% of women who experience harassment face retaliation after reporting
Only 22% of harassment cases result in disciplinary action
25% of employees report feeling unsafe at work due to harassment
66% of sexual harassment victims in the workplace are between the ages of 25-34

Did you know that nearly 75% of women experience workplace sexual harassment, yet over 80% never report it, costing U.S. companies billions annually and exposing a troubling gap between the prevalence of abuse and the efforts to combat it?

Economic and Organizational Consequences

Workplace sexual harassment costs US companies approximately $22 billion annually in turnover, absenteeism, and productivity losses

Economic and Organizational Consequences Interpretation

The staggering $22 billion annual toll of workplace sexual harassment not only reflects a grave moral failing but also reveals how such misconduct siphons off valuable resources, undermining both corporate success and employee well-being.

Impact on Victims and Workplace Culture

80% of sexual harassment victims said that the harassment affected their mental health
56% of women who experience harassment face retaliation after reporting
70% of women who experience harassment report feeling ashamed and helpless
66% of victims say harassment worsens with ongoing exposure
28% of sexual harassment victims face negative career consequences after reporting, such as being passed over for promotion
33% of victims do not report harassment because they fear job loss or damage to reputation
15% of victims report experiencing long-term psychological trauma following harassment incidents
44% of those harassed at work say their productivity decreased as a result
The average duration of harassment incidents reported was 10 months before reporting
65% of victims do not seek legal action beyond their employer, citing fear or futility

Impact on Victims and Workplace Culture Interpretation

These harrowing statistics reveal a grim reality: workplace sexual harassment not only devastates mental health and perpetuates shame but also traps victims in a cycle of retaliation, career stagnation, and silence—highlighting the urgent need for safer, more supportive organizational cultures and comprehensive reforms.

Perception of Harassment

Only 10% of victims believe their employer took appropriate action

Perception of Harassment Interpretation

With only 10% of victims feeling that their employer responded appropriately, it seems many workplaces still have a long way to go before they can claim to take harassment seriously rather than just ticking a box.

Prevalence and Perception of Harassment

Nearly 75% of women experience some form of sexual harassment at work during their careers
60% of sexual harassment victims in the workplace are women
75% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work, according to a 2018 survey
70% of sexual harassers in workplaces are men
41% of employees who experience harassment in the workplace are uncertain if they should report it
25% of employees report feeling unsafe at work due to harassment
66% of sexual harassment victims in the workplace are between the ages of 25-34
Gender-based harassment is most prevalent in male-dominated industries like construction and finance
40% of victims do not report harassment because they believe nothing will be done
58% of workplace sexual harassment victims are employed in the private sector
The most common form of harassment reported is verbal in nature, such as inappropriate comments or jokes
35% of men and 70% of women believe that workplace harassment is a serious problem
80% of sexual harassment complaints are made by women
Over 60% of companies lack clear policies or procedures for handling harassment complaints
45% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace
52% of employees report feeling uncomfortable when colleagues make sexual jokes
20% of harassment cases involve extortion or quid pro quo
65% of women and 54% of men believe that workplace harassment is underreported
Workplace sexual harassment is most commonly reported in the healthcare, education, and hospitality industries
38% of respondents in a 2021 survey said they witnessed misconduct but did not intervene or report it
72% of employees say they would feel comfortable reporting harassment if strong anti-retaliation policies were in place
Women under 35 are twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than women over 50
Nearly half of workplace sexual harassment incidents involve minor physical touching or gestures
55% of employees have experienced inappropriate physical contact at work
Approximately 22% of sexual harassment cases involve power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim
54% of workplaces do not provide training on sexual harassment, according to a 2020 report
80% of harassment complaints in the healthcare industry are sexual in nature
48% of women and 32% of men who experience harassment report feeling scared to come forward
40% of victims experience harassment in every new job they take, indicating a persistent workplace issue
84% of workplaces lack mandatory training programs on sexual harassment
Almost 60% of victims say that the harassment happened more than once, indicating its repetitive nature
50% of men and women surveyed believe that harassment is more common than reported
Victims aged 18-29 are most likely to experience harassment at work, with nearly 60% reporting incidents
54% of all harassment cases are reported by women, with men representing 46%
35% of employees privately believe that harassment is an open secret in their workplace, not addressed publicly
78% of younger employees (under 30) view stronger anti-harassment policies as effective deterrents

Prevalence and Perception of Harassment Interpretation

Despite widespread acknowledgment that workplace sexual harassment remains a pervasive and underreported issue, nearly three-quarters of women experience it during their careers, highlighting a pressing need for stronger policies, reporting mechanisms, and cultural change across industries to turn the tide on this entrenched problem.

Reporting and Disciplinary Actions

About 81% of women who experience sexual harassment at work never report it
Only 30% of victims file a formal complaint with their employer
Only 22% of harassment cases result in disciplinary action
Around 50% of sexual harassment incidents go unreported due to fear of retaliation
21% of harassment reports are dismissed or unresolved after investigation

Reporting and Disciplinary Actions Interpretation

These startling statistics reveal that workplace sexual harassment remains a silent epidemic, perpetuated by fear, underreporting, and a justice system that often fails to hold perpetrators accountable—highlighting the urgent need for cultural change and stronger protections.