One in two female respondents to a national poll has been sexually harassed at work.
Nearly half the female scientists who responded to an Australian survey on sexual misconduct at work have experienced sexual harassment. In a report released today, 10% of male scientists also said they had been sexually harassed at work.
As we have observed before (see the list of related stories/papers) this situation is sickening and unacceptable. Many Australia research institutions have separate HR processes for harassment and bullying – which is acceptable if they are supportive of the concern raised with them. But harassment and bullying needs also to be defined as research misconduct. The accomplishments of researchers shouldn’t be lauded if they are harassers or bullies.
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Previous surveys of students in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have found widespread harassment at universities. The latest results show that harassment is rife across all types of scientific workplace.
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