IBA Survey on Sexual Harassment and Bullying
It has been more than 30 years since a law firm in Alabama thought it was acceptable to subject the female members of its annual summer internship programme to a wet t-shirt contest.
We have come “some ways” since then perhaps, but not "a long way:" the International Bar Association’s recent survey on bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession makes for sobering reading. Conducted in 6 languages, and involving almost 7,000 respondents from 135 countries, it shows that 1 in 3 female and 1 in 14 male respondents have had to face sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition, 57% of bullying and 75% of sexual harassment cases are not reported.
Global in scope, it is a one-of a kind survey, undertaken by the largest international lawyers’ organisation in the world. As a member of the IBA, and participant in its in-house counsel group, I’m pleased to see that this issue is finally getting some attention in our profession. The global nature of the study reinforces my belief that it is wrong to think that "cultural factors" somehow justify improper behaviour.
And don’t think sexual harassment or bullying is just a “women’s issue.” 32% of male respondents said they had experienced bullying at some point in their legal career (and 55% of female respondents!).
https://www.ibanet.org/bullying-and-sexual-harassment.aspx
We have come “some ways” since then perhaps, but not "a long way:" the International Bar Association’s recent survey on bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession makes for sobering reading. Conducted in 6 languages, and involving almost 7,000 respondents from 135 countries, it shows that 1 in 3 female and 1 in 14 male respondents have had to face sexual harassment in the workplace. In addition, 57% of bullying and 75% of sexual harassment cases are not reported.
Global in scope, it is a one-of a kind survey, undertaken by the largest international lawyers’ organisation in the world. As a member of the IBA, and participant in its in-house counsel group, I’m pleased to see that this issue is finally getting some attention in our profession. The global nature of the study reinforces my belief that it is wrong to think that "cultural factors" somehow justify improper behaviour.
And don’t think sexual harassment or bullying is just a “women’s issue.” 32% of male respondents said they had experienced bullying at some point in their legal career (and 55% of female respondents!).
https://www.ibanet.org/bullying-and-sexual-harassment.aspx
