Financial News Survey: 74% of women said they had to endure inappropriate behaviour in the office

According to the results of a Financial News Survey of 181 people of which 133 were women, working in the square mile 74% of women said they had to endure inappropriate behaviour in the office.

Whilst a precise percentage in the report is not given, a significant proportion of those had to leave the company as a result with the highest proportion working in investment banking and trading. Megan Butler, the Head of Supervision at the Financial Conduct Authority said, “Over the course of my career I have been on the receiving end of sexual harassment and witnessed it on a number of occasions, particularly with senior men and junior women”.

At a time when the sector is trying through the Diversity Project and other initiatives to attract women into the sector, the report does not bode well for those that are trying to persuade new talent that it is an inclusive environment to work in.

One respondent who works in asset management said “I was told if I valued my career, I should keep quiet” which raises the spectrum of women not reporting it for fear of it having a negative impact on their career, being seen as somehow weak or to blame or the more insidious element of just not being believed.

Of those that did report it, the vast majority of respondents said it was not dealt with by the company and HR seemed more intent on saving the image of the company rather than dealing with the issues.

This culture of abuse is not acceptable and in the light of the investigations against Harvey Weinstein, it is important that both men and women speak out against any form of sexual harassment.