Remote Work, Sexual Harassment, and Worker Well-Being

Abstract

Workplace sexual harassment is a serious occupational hazard, adversely affecting workers' employment trajectories, economic well-being, and mental and physical health. Prior to COVID-19, it was widespread and primarily perpetrated by men against women, both in the physical workplace and physical and virtual public spaces associated with work. This chapter examines how the transition to remote work has effected changes in the prevalence and types of sexual harassment, paying attention to its gendered nature. Remote work holds both promise and peril. While exposure to physical harassment has fallen, information and communications technology has increased the risk of sexual harassment in virtual spaces. The cases of the United States and India are explored in more detail to compare worker experiences across the Global North and Global South, in countries with vastly different socioeconomic structures. This chapter contributes to the understanding of the benefits and challenges of remote work in combatting sexual harassment.

Integrating Gender into a Labor Economics Class

“…Nevertheless, working from home is not without risk. While it may reduce exposure to physical workplace sexual harassment, the increased reliance on forms of information and communications technology such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and Slack has enhanced the risk of sexual harassment in virtual spaces (Strenio and Roy Chowdhury 2021). The one-on-one side channel communication options on these applications typically come with little to no oversight or bystanders, exacerbating the risk for harassment.…”