Two thirds of young women face bullying, sexual harassment, or verbal abuse at work

Nearly two-thirds of young women say they have endured bullying, sexual harassment or verbal abuse in the workplace, according to damning new research. “This sometimes leads people to think they can touch you like they would touch the products.” The polling found more than three in five women saying they have endured three or more bullying incidents in the workplace, while two in five women have suffered at least three incidents of sexual harassment. Less than three in ten women who say they endured sexual harassment at work informed their employer, while just two in five women being bullied and half grappling with verbal abuse report the misconduct. Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said: “Ministers promised to bring in long overdue new laws to prevent workplace sexual harassment and tackle abuse from third parties like customers and clients. “But they are now backsliding under pressure from their own backbenchers who are trying to delay and derail these vital new protections.” Mr Nowak warned it would “be a disgrace” if ministers permit the legislation “to fall” as he called for the government to “urgently ensure this bill passes in full” or risk betraying “working women right across the country.” A spokesperson for the Government’s Equality Hub said: “There is no place for harassment of any kind.