Employees have little confidence in human resources departments to deal fairly and effectively with workplace harassment issues, according to a new study published in the journal Journal of Business Ethics.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University and Bishop Grosseteste University analysed testimonials posted online by employees who had been victims of workplace harassment. Of the responses, not a single one had anything positive to say about how their employer’s HR handled the situation.
These employees reported being ignored and further victimized, as well as indicating that HR regularly stands by “harassing managers.”
This study is the first to examine online comments and exchanges related to workplace harassment. The authors found that HR has been unable to address harassment issues to the satisfaction of workers; they also believe that several factors contribute to this failure.
This includes the legal, but also reputational, implications for a company that acknowledges that harassment has occurred; we fear losing harassers who, despite everything, would be “good guys” for the team, as well as devoting valuable time to investigations and decision-making.
Workers also described harassment as pervasive and torturous, manipulative and draining, destructive and stressful, toxic, etc.
Meanwhile, study participants rated HR departments as weak, complacent, fearful, complicit, corrupt, selfish, ineffective, and conniving.
According to the study's lead author, Dr Clive Body, “The study shows that employees are critical of HR departments when it comes to dealing with the dark side of life within the company.”
“If they accept that internal procedures will not protect them, employees will be less likely to report harassment, and will suffer in silence – which can have mental health implications, as well as impacting productivity,” the researcher added.
“It is in the best interests of employees and employers to have a strict code of conduct enforced by HR, or to have alternative ways of dealing with workplace harassment, if HR is unable to help workers who need it most.”
