One important aspect of any organization is its culture. Culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, norms, attitudes, and practices that guide how employees interact with each other and their surroundings. When it comes to the workplace, culture can have a significant impact on employee morale, productivity, and retention. One type of behavior that has been found to negatively impact organizational culture is sexual harassment. Sexualized workplace behaviors refer to actions or comments directed towards an individual that are unwelcome and create a hostile environment. This could include anything from making lewd jokes to physical touching without consent. Research has shown that sexualized workplace behaviors can lead to decreased trust among employees and a lack of psychological safety. Let's explore how this happens and what organizations can do about it.
Let's consider trust. Trust is an essential component of any healthy workplace relationship. When employees feel like they can rely on their coworkers and managers, they are more likely to collaborate effectively, share ideas openly, and take risks. On the other hand, when there is a lack of trust, employees may become guarded in their interactions and avoid taking chances. In a study by Liao et al., participants were asked to imagine themselves working in an office where sexualized behaviors were common. They then answered questions about their perceptions of the work environment. The results showed that employees who experienced sexualized behaviors reported lower levels of trust than those who did not.
The researchers found that this effect was stronger for women than men, highlighting the disproportionate burden placed on female employees.
Let's look at psychological safety. Psychological safety refers to the feeling of being able to speak up and express oneself freely without fear of retribution. A psychologically safe environment is one where employees feel comfortable taking risks, challenging assumptions, and admitting mistakes. Sexualized workplace behaviors can have a significant impact on psychological safety because they create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Employees may feel like they cannot speak out if something makes them uncomfortable or criticize others for fear of appearing weak or vulnerable. This can lead to a culture of silence where issues go unaddressed and problems fester.
So what can organizations do about it? One important step is to establish clear policies regarding sexualized behaviors in the workplace. These should be explicit, consistent, and enforced consistently across all levels of the organization. Managers should receive training on how to identify and respond to these behaviors appropriately. It's also essential to create a culture of respect and inclusion where everyone feels valued and heard.
Organizations should provide resources for employees to report incidents and support those affected by sexualized behavior. By addressing sexualized workplace behaviors head-on, organizations can create a more productive and positive workplace environment.
In what ways do sexualized workplace behaviors affect organizational trust and psychological safety?
Sexualized workplace behaviors can negatively impact organizational trust and psychological safety. Employees who experience sexual harassment or discrimination may feel unsafe, unwelcome, and less confident about their abilities and contributions, leading to decreased job satisfaction, reduced productivity, and increased turnover rates. Additionally, sexualized behavior can create a hostile environment where employees are afraid to speak up or report incidents for fear of retaliation or stigma.