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WSH
Consider this:
When a male boss threatens to fire a female subordinate if she does not sleep with him, is it sexual harassment? What about when a man cracks a lewd joke and makes a suggestive gesture in a roomful of people? Is sexual harassment common in Singapore? What is the best way to deal with sexual harassment?
In Singapore, many deny that sexual harassment is a problem. A 2020 survey by AWARE and Ipsos found otherwise—2 in 5 of the respondents indicated that they had experienced workplace sexual harassment.
Whatever the form of sexual harassment, it undoubtedly upsets the victim and can, in extreme cases, cause emotional harm and even physical and psychological trauma.
Why speak up?
Sexual harassment is a form of abuse. This bullying behaviour is often about power over the more vulnerable individual regardless of age, race, sex, religion or class.
Sexual harassment can occur anywhere—at home, at the workplace, and public areas. Workplace sexual harassment is particularly egregious as it often involves an abuse of power and makes it difficult for a person to earn his or her livelihood.
Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Advisory
If you have been harassed, consider calling AWARE’s Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Advisory. WHDA will guide you through all your various options, internal or external—including approaching your company’s HR or the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP), or filing a mediation request with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM). Conversations will be kept strictly private and AWARE will never contact your employer.
Call 6777 0318, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Catalyse, a resource for companies and institutions
Catalyse is the corporate advisory and training arm of AWARE. Its mission is to build an inclusive world that embraces diversity, so that everyone can be the best version of themselves. It does this by designing and delivering workshops on Managing Workplace Harassment and Bullying, Diversity and Inclusion, Unconscious Bias, Having Difficult Conversations and Inclusive Leadership. It also provides bespoke consultation on harassment and D&I corporate policy. For more information about how Catalyse can work with you, email catalyse@catalyse.sg.