US researchers show different impacts of disclosures of sexual harassment and ostracism before and after #MeToo movement

Abstract

PurposeThe authors said there had been no previous research into the relationship between ostracism and workplace disclosure of sexual harassment. But reports of sexual harassment are common. In the US, more than 12,000 employees file sexual harassment claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission annually.Design/methodology/approachThe author reviewed the history of ostracism, then looked at how the #MeToo movement is helping to undermine the stigmas around disclosing sexual harassmentFindingsThe authors suggest that targets of ostracism benefit from the support of online communities of the #MeToo movement. They provide an alternative inclusive environment for people who are deprived of the sense of belongingness at work.Originality/valueThe researchers called on leaders and HR professionals to examine the role of ostracism in their organizational cultures and take steps to mitigate its power. The authors also want their paper to serve as a call for experimental research on the link between sexual harassment and ostracism.