Report to #MaineCanDo on Sexual Harassment in Maine Workplaces

Report to #MaineCanDo on Sexual Harassment in Maine Workplaces
217 Commercial St. Portland, Maine 04101 (207) May, 2019

Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo
Methodological Notes Two survey instruments – one for employees and one for employers – were designed by Pan Atlantic Research in close collaboration with #MaineCanDo and partner organizations including the Maine Association of Non-Profits, Coastal Enterprises, Inc., and the Maine Technology Institute. Survey links were distributed online via a number of channels, including the newsletters and distribution lists of partner organizations. Respondents were directed towards the “employer” or “employee” surveys based on their responses to the following question: Are you the person or one of the people at your organization who helps set policy related to human resources issues like sexual harassment? employee surveys were collected for a margin of sampling error of ±5.6% at the 95% confidence level employer surveys were collected for a margin of sampling error of ±6.7% at the 95% confidence level. A total of 519 employee and employer responses were collected.

Methodological Notes Prior to beginning the survey, all respondents were shown the following definition of sexual harassment: Sexual harassment is against state and federal law and includes unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which threatens job security, working conditions, or advancement opportunities. Sexual harassment can be perpetrated by any gender or sexual orientation against any gender or sexual orientation. The two major categories of sexual harassment in federal and state law include quid pro quo harassment and harassment which creates a “hostile work environment.” Quid pro quo harassment is when a job, promotion or other professional benefit is conditioned on the individual’s submission to sexual advances or other conduct or when such benefits are denied because the individual refused to submit to sexual request(s). A hostile work environment is created when unwelcome verbal, physical or visual conduct is severe or pervasive, and creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment or interferes with work performance. Employees may experience this kind of sexual harassment even if the offensive conduct was not directed toward them.

Methodological Notes Prior to beginning the survey, all respondents were shown the following definition of sexual harassment (continued): Examples of sexual harassment include: • Making sexually explicit or derogatory comments or jokes, either verbally or via . • Inappropriate touching or groping • Questions about sex life or relationships • Sexually suggestive looks, leers, noises, gestures • Pictures, cartoons, screen savers • Forwarding sexual material via or text • Texting sexually explicit text or images

Research Findings Perceptions about Workplace Sexual Harassment In Maine

Perceived Frequency of Workplace Sexual Harassment in Maine
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Perceived Frequency of Workplace Sexual Harassment in Maine On average, employers and employees each believe that more than 4 in 10 adults have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in Maine. Employee Mean: 47% Employer Mean: 43% N=303 N=216 What percentage of adults do you think have ever experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in Maine?

Perceptions Regarding Workplace Sexual Harassment in Maine
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Perceptions Regarding Workplace Sexual Harassment in Maine Employees N=303 N=216 Employers 63.8% 48.7% 89.7% 93.6% 62.1% 65.8% 31.2% 22.2% Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Employee Questions Only
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Perceptions Regarding Workplace Sexual Harassment in Maine N=303 Employee Questions Only Nearly half of employee respondents feel that reports of sexual harassment in the workplace are generally ignored. 49.8% 70.4% Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Employers’ Perceptions Employees’ Experiences
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Consequences of Workplace Sexual Harassment Employers’ Perceptions N=216 Employees’ Experiences N=303 56.4% 43.0% 37.6% 40.9% 32.9% 12.8% 24.2% 16.1% How frequently do you think that the following consequences occur for the survivors of sexual harassment? [Employers] Have you experienced any of the following as a result of sexual harassment in your current workplace or in any other workplace? [Employees]

Research Findings – Employer Survey
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Research Findings – Employer Survey Workplace Policies, Awareness, and Experience Regarding Sexual Harassment

Workplace Policies Regarding Sexual Harassment
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Workplace Policies Regarding Sexual Harassment When Policy Was Last Updated N=177 Organization Has a Written Sexual Harassment Policy N=216 Does your organization have a written sexual harassment policy? When was that policy last reviewed / updated?

Which Groups Receive Training
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Workplace Training in Sexual Harassment Organization Provides Training About What to Do If an Employee Experiences Sexual Harassment N=216 Which Groups Receive Training N=113 Does your organization provide training within the workplace about what to do if an employee experiences sexual harassment? Which of the following groups receive sexual harassment training in your organization? Do managers and supervisors in your organization receive training to ensure immediate and appropriate corrective action is taken when there is a complaint of sexual harassment?

Workplace Policies Regarding Sexual Harassment
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Workplace Policies Regarding Sexual Harassment More Than One Person To Whom Sexual Harassment Can Be Reported N=216 Aware of Local Sexual Assault Response Center N=216 Aware of Trainings from Local Sexual Assault Response Center N=216 Does your organization have more than one person in the workplace to whom an employee can report sexual harassment? Are you aware that there is a local sexual assault response center in your area that provides education, support, and other resources to survivors of sexual harassment? Are you aware that local sexual assault response centers offer free / low-cost sexual harassment trainings to Maine employers?

Workplace Reports of Sexual Harassment
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Workplace Reports of Sexual Harassment Organization Has Had Report(s) of Sexual Harassment N=216 Timing of Most Recent Report N=48 Has there been a report or reports of sexual harassment within your workplace? When was the most recent report of sexual harassment in your organization?

Research Findings – Employee Survey
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Research Findings – Employee Survey Policies and Resources Regarding Workplace Sexual Harassment

Does Your Workplace Have a Written Sexual Harassment Policy?
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Employee Awareness of Workplace Policies Have you Reviewed It? N=244 Does Your Workplace Have a Written Sexual Harassment Policy? N=303 Does your organization have a written sexual harassment policy? Have you reviewed it?

Awareness of Resources to Report Workplace Sexual Harassment
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Awareness of Resources to Report Workplace Sexual Harassment While 9 in 10 employee respondents are aware of who to report sexual harassment to in their own workplace, only about half are aware of outside resources such as the Maine Sexual Assault Helpline, the MHRC, the EEOC, and local sexual assault response centers. N=303

Research Findings – Employee Survey
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Research Findings – Employee Survey Personal Experiences of Sexual Harassment

Experienced Sexual Harassment in a Maine Workplace
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Experience of Sexual Harassment in a Maine Workplace Experienced Sexual Harassment in a Maine Workplace N=303 A total of 149 respondents (49.2%) indicated having experienced sexual harassment in a Maine workplace. The following slides relate to the experiences of these survivors. Have you ever experienced sexual harassment in your current workplace? Have you ever experienced sexual harassment while working in a Maine workplace?

Nature of Sexual Harassment Experienced
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Nature of Sexual Harassment Experienced N = 149 What was the nature of that harassment?

Frequency of Sexual Harassment Experienced
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Frequency of Sexual Harassment Experienced N = 149 How frequently [have you experienced / did you experience] sexual harassment in [your current / that] workplace?

Role(s) of Sexual Harasser(s)
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Role(s) of Sexual Harasser(s) N = 149 What is the role of the person / people who [have] sexually harassed you in [your current / that] workplace? [Multiple options could be selected.]

Reporting and Retaliation
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Reporting and Retaliation Experienced Retaliation Due to Reporting Sexual Harassment N=58 Reported Sexual Harassment Experienced N=149 Did you report the sexual harassment you experienced to someone else in the organization? Did you experience any retaliation as a result of reporting the sexual harassment you experienced?

Frequency of Reporting Harassment to Someone Else in Organization
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Respondents were most likely to report “threats of retaliation / implied promotion” or coworkers who “touched you or exposed self.” Frequency of Reporting Harassment to Someone Else in Organization Among Victims By Type of Harassment N=58 What was the nature of that harassment? Did you report the sexual harassment you experienced to someone else in the organization?

Consequences of Harassment Experienced
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Nearly all consequences of harassment occur with greater frequency if harassment is coming from a supervisor or owner. Consequences of Harassment Experienced N=149 Have you experienced any of the following as a result of sexual harassment in your current workplace or in any other workplace? [Employees]

Likelihood of reporting is lower, while likelihood of retaliation is higher when harassment comes from supervisors / owners. Among Those Who Experienced Sexual Harassment, % Who Reported That Sexual Harassment N=149 Among Those Who Reported Sexual Harassment, % Who Experienced Retaliation N=58 Did you report the sexual harassment you experienced to someone else in the organization? Did you experience any retaliation as a result of reporting the sexual harassment you experienced?

Research Findings Key Results by Gender
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Research Findings Key Results by Gender

It is inevitable that people will hit on each other at work.
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Although female and male respondents give fairly similar estimates of the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment in Maine (47% female, 43% male), many perceptions about workplace culture differ by gender. It is inevitable that people will hit on each other at work. N=303 Those who report being the victims of sexual harassment should be given the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise N=303 People accused of sexual harassment should be given the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise N=303 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? [% Strongly or Somewhat Agree, combined]

Perceptions about reporting sexual harassment also differ strongly by gender. A person who reports being sexually harassed is risking their career. N=303 Reports of sexual harassment in the workplace are generally ignored. N=303 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? [% Strongly or Somewhat Agree, combined]

Male respondents showed higher awareness of the ability to report harassment to the MHRC and the US EEOC, while female respondents showed higher awareness of local sexual assault response centers and the Maine Sexual Assault Helpline. % Aware N=303

While female respondents experienced workplace sexual harassment at significantly higher rates, male and female respondents witnessed workplace sexual harassment at similar rates. Experienced Workplace Sexual Harassment N=303 Witnessed Workplace Sexual Harassment N=303 Have you ever experienced sexual harassment in your current workplace? Have you ever experienced sexual harassment while working in a Maine workplace? Are you aware of or have you witnessed the sexual harassment of other employees within your current workplace?

Female respondents experienced all forms of workplace sexual harassment at significantly higher rates than male respondents. Nature of Sexual Harassment Experienced (Among All Respondents - N=303) Stared, Leered, Ogled Touched or Exposed Self Threatened Retaliation Offensive Remarks Displayed Sexist Materials Derogatory Comments

Research Findings Key Results – Other Demographics
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Research Findings Key Results – Other Demographics

Perceived risk of reporting is significantly higher for younger employee respondents. Younger respondents are also much more likely to believe that victims get to decide what is and is not sexual harassment. Victims Get To Decide What Is and Is Not Sexual Harassment. % Strongly Agree N=303 Experienced Sexual Harassment in a Current or Former Workplace N=303 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Have you ever experienced sexual harassment in your current workplace? Have you ever experienced sexual harassment while working in a Maine workplace?

Larger companies are more likely to have written sexual harassment policies and sexual harassment training for employees. % of Employers With a Written Sexual Harassment Policy N=216 % of Employers Who Provide Sexual Harassment Training for Employees N=216 Does your organization have a written sexual harassment policy? Does your organization provide training within the workplace about what to do if an employee experiences sexual harassment?

Awareness of procedures for reporting sexual harassment within the workplace, to the MHRC, and to the EEOC is lower among employees in smaller companies. % Aware of Who to Report Sexual Harassment to Within the Workplace N=303 % Aware of Ability to Report Sexual Harassment to MHRC N=303 % Aware of Ability to Report Sexual Harassment to US EEOC N=303

% of Employers who Received Reports of Sexual Harassment
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo The rate of employee respondents who have experienced sexual harassment is half again as large in larger companies compared to smaller ones. % of Employees who Report Having Experienced Sexual Harassment in Current Workplace N=303 % of Employers who Received Reports of Sexual Harassment N=149

Non-profit employer respondents were more likely to have a written sexual harassment policy, to provide training to employees, and to have multiple people in the organization to whom to report harassment compared to for-profit respondents. Employers Have Written Policy N=216 Employers Provide Training to Employees N=216 Employers Have Multiple People to Whom to Report Harassment N=216

Experiences of reporting sexual harassment and retaliation for that reporting differ between respondents who are employees of for-profit and non-profit organizations. Among Those Who Experienced Sexual Harassment, % Who Reported That Sexual Harassment N=149 Among Those Who Reported Sexual Harassment, % Who Experienced Retaliation N=58

Demographics of the Sample- Employers
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Demographics of the Sample- Employers

Sample Demographics - Employers
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics - Employers How long has your organization been in business? <1 Year 2.3% 1-3 Years 6.0% 4-9 Years 17.6% 10+ Years 74.1% Don’t know / Prefer not to answer 0.0% How many employees does your organization have? 0-14 51.9% 15-50 23.1% 51-100 12.5% More than 100

Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics - Employers In what county is your organization located? Androscoggin 6.0% Aroostook 0.9% Cumberland 41.7% Franklin 1.4% Hancock 5.1% Kennebec 8.3% Knox 3.2% Lincoln Oxford 3.7% Penobscot 6.5% Piscataquis 0.0% Sagadahoc 1.4% Somerset 0.5% Waldo 2.8% Washington York 12.5% Prefer not to answer 3.2%

Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics - Employers Would the area where your organization is located be best described as: Urban 40.7% Suburban 26.4% Rural 29.6% Don’t know 3.2% Is the organization you work for a for-profit or not-for-profit organization? For-profit 36.6% Not-for-profit 62.0% Other 0.9% Don’t know 0.5%

Demographics of the Sample - Employees
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Demographics of the Sample - Employees

Sample Demographics - Employees
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics - Employees How long has the organization where you work been in business? <1 Year 4.3% 1-3 Years 6.0% 4-9 Years 11.0% 10+ Years 78.7% How many employees does the organization where you work have? 0-14 31.0% 15-50 20.0% 51-100 18.0% More than 100

Sample Demographics - Employees
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics - Employees In what county is the organization where you work located? Androscoggin 1.7% Aroostook 2.0% Cumberland 37.5% Franklin Hancock Kennebec 9.9% Knox 3.1% Lincoln 0.7% Oxford 0.7% Penobscot 16.0% Piscataquis 0.3% Sagadahoc 2.4% Somerset 1.0% Waldo 2.0% Washington York 12.6% Prefer not to answer 5.1%

Sample Demographics – Employees
Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics – Employees Would the area where your organization is located be best described as: Urban 43.6% Suburban 28.1% Rural 23.8% Don’t know 4.6% Is the organization you work for a for-profit or not-for-profit organization? For-profit 34.0% Not-for-profit 57.4% Other 3.0% Don’t know 5.6%

Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics – Employees Age 18-34 30.7% 35-54 48.5% 55+ 19.8% Prefer not to answer 1.0% Level of Education High school diploma or less 4.0% Some college / 2-year degree 13.2% Four-year college degree or more 82.1% Prefer not to answer 0.7%

Pan Atlantic Research Presentation to #MaineCanDo Sample Demographics – Employees Gender Female 76.2% Male 21.1% Transgender / Nonbinary 0.7% Prefer not to answer 2.0% Position in Organization Volunteer / Intern 1.0% Entry level 7.6% Associate 30.7% Mid-senior level 35.0% Director 15.2% Executive 7.3% Prefer not to answer 3.3%

Report to #MaineCanDo on Sexual Harassment in Maine Workplaces

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