Despite anti-discrimination and sexual harassment laws, off-color comments in the workplace aren't a thing of the past; in fact, they're more common now than ever, according to a recent survey.

WorkforceWeek reports on the increase in popularity of sexually offensive or racist comments at work.

Novations Group, a Boston consultancy group specializing in work issues, conducted a telephone survey of female and male employees, which focused on the types of conversation they heard in the workplace. The report states, "38 percent of women heard colleagues utter sexually demeaning comments, up from 22 percent in 2006." Men (45 percent) agreed and said they overheard the same comments.

Racial and ethnic slurs are also popular in the workplace, with men (44 percent) and women (24 percent) saying they've overheard those types of talk.

Looking for ways to curb this kind of talk at your shop (and avoid the potential for discrimination and sexual harassment issues)? Turn to previous issues of E-Brief for tips in articles such as "Work Place Kissy Face?" and "Discrimination Charges Up in 2006, Feds Say."

--Cassandra P. Foster
cfoster@safnow.org

Previous Article    Next Article