Sexual harassment in the workplace: A literature review

Abstract

Sexual Harassment (SH) is one of the challenging human resource management problems in the work environment. It usually has a great impact on individuals and affects the image and profitability of the organisations. It can be classified into two; the quid pro quo and hostile environment sexual harassment. Apart from its effect on the victim's psychological, economic, and physical stability which influences their ability to work effectively, it also causes incalculable harm to their families. Although the majority of sexual harassment complaints come from women, the number of complaints filed by men is swiftly increasing. In order to mitigate SH in the Ghanaian work environment, clearer policies and laws should be formulated and enacted so that perpetrators and victims alike will know what constitutes SH, and the corresponding punishments. Both employer and employees have a role to play to curb its effect; while the onus lies on employers to draw SH policies, employees must acquaint themselves with it, and discourage the act immediately it starts. This paper discusses sexual harassment in the work environment from the literature review perspective and provides an in depth review of the issue from different countries and institutions. It also examines some trends in the issue, and explores some causes of SH in Ghana. In addition, the paper provides precautionary measures that can be adopted by both victims and organisations to curb the menace and enhance stability and growth in organisations.