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Sexual Harassment

Harassment: Hidden Victims

Provided by Psychology Today

There's always a second victim of sexual harassment that gets overlooked. In every case, says organizational psychologist Jan Salisbury, that turns out to be the workplace itself.

Typically, the filing of a complaint sets off events that turn coworkers unpleasant and unproductive. Even the smallest stuff "blows the workplace apart." Filing a formal complaint is tantamount to declaring war on the office. Coworkers shun the victim, making it difficult for her to work. They also withdraw support they previously gave in work interactions, and they're terrified that associating with a "troublemaker" will threaten their own jobs.

The work group experiences the problem--usually abuse of power--secondhand, observes Salisbury, who organized a major national conference on sexual harassment in Bellevue, Washington, this past March. If the accused is a boss--and since the coworkers, too, have a relationship with that person--they feel forced to take sides, but without all the facts. Angry at the situation, they are most likely to hurl their anger at the victim.

In nontraditional work situations, anger is compounded, says Salisbury. It is a way for workers to unleash their ill will over how they--largely blue-collar workers--are usually treated.

Salisbury agrees with most observers that individual victims of sexual harassment often need professional help to get back on track. She also finds that offices need some healing help, too--best if given by upper management. "They need support as a work group, but they also need the facts; otherwise, they'll make up their own. And they need to understand that the complainant has nothing to do with the punishment."

Originally published by Psychology Today:May 92