Table 5
Impacts and consequences of work-related inappropriate sexualized behaviours experienced in the past 12 months, by category of behaviour and gender, 2020


Table 5
Impacts and consequences of work-related inappropriate sexualized behaviours experienced in the past 12 months, by category of behaviour and gender, 2020
Table summary
This table displays the results of Impacts and consequences of work-related inappropriate sexualized behaviours experienced in the past 12 months. The information is grouped by Impacts and consequences (appearing as row headers), Inappropriate verbal or non-verbal communication, Sexually explicit materials, Physical contact or suggested sexual relations, Women, Men, percent and 95% confidence interval, calculated using from and to units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Impacts and consequences Inappropriate verbal or non-verbal communicationTable 5 Note 1 Sexually explicit materialsTable 5 Note 2 Physical contact or suggested sexual relationsTable 5 Note 3
WomenTable 5 Note † Men WomenTable 5 Note † Men WomenTable 5 Note † Men
percent 95% confidence interval percent 95% confidence interval percent 95% confidence interval percent 95% confidence interval percent 95% confidence interval percent 95% confidence interval
from to from to from to from to from to from to
Personal and emotional impacts
Avoided or wanted to avoid specific people at work 48 44 52 20Note * 16 25 55Note E: Use with caution 43 66 24Note E: Use with caution Note * 15 35 60 55 66 44Note * 33 56
Avoided or wanted to avoid specific locations or tasks at work 30 26 35 10Note * 6 14 37Note E: Use with caution 26 49 12Note E: Use with caution Note * 6 23 38 32 44 28 18 40
Wanted to miss work or work fewer hours 17 14 21 6Note * 3 10 26Note E: Use with caution 17 38 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 19 15 24 13 6 26
Missed work or worked fewer hours 10 8 14 4Note * 2 9 16Note E: Use with caution 9 27 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 11 7 15 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Had difficulty doing your work 21 18 25 10Note * 7 15 22Note E: Use with caution 14 33 6Note E: Use with caution Note * 3 13 23 18 29 17 9 30
Turned down a job opportunity 5 3 7 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 6 4 10 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Experienced a loss of trust in the person in authority at work or in your company or organization 28 24 32 15Note * 11 19 31Note E: Use with caution 21 43 16Note E: Use with caution Note * 9 28 26 21 32 20 12 33
Wanted to change your job, transfer or quit 21 17 25 10Note * 7 14 30Note E: Use with caution 20 42 11Note E: Use with caution Note * 6 22 25 20 30 16 8 30
Changed your job, transferred or quit 11 8 14 6Note * 3 10 11Note E: Use with caution 6 19 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 10 7 14 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Avoided optional work-related social functions 24 20 27 13Note * 9 17 34Note E: Use with caution 23 48 8Note E: Use with caution Note * 4 14 22 18 28 18 10 30
Experienced negative emotional impact 39 35 44 16Note * 12 21 34Note E: Use with caution 24 46 13Note E: Use with caution Note * 6 25 37 31 43 19Note * 11 32
Experienced negative impact on your personal or social life 18 14 22 7Note * 4 11 20Note E: Use with caution 13 31 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 15 11 19 13 6 27
Sought support services 7 5 9 2Note * 1 3 10Note E: Use with caution 5 18 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 6 4 9 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Used drugs or alcohol to cope with the experience 5 3 7 6 3 11 11Note E: Use with caution 6 21 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 6 4 9 11 4 25
Impacts in the past month
Had nightmares about it or thought about it when you did not want to 10 8 13 3Note * 2 5 16Note E: Use with caution 8 27 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 11 9 15 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Tried hard not to think about it or went out of your way to avoid situations that reminded you of it 23 19 27 10Note * 7 14 34Note E: Use with caution 23 47 12Note E: Use with caution Note * 6 20 25 20 30 9Note * 5 17
Felt constantly on guard, watchful or easily startled 21 17 25 9Note * 6 13 23Note E: Use with caution 15 34 10Note E: Use with caution 5 22 22 17 27 16 10 24
Felt numb or detached from others, activities or your surroundings 9 7 12 5Note * 3 8 16Note E: Use with caution 9 27 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 9 6 12 6 3 12
Three or four of the above impactsTable 5 Note 4 8 6 10 3Note * 2 6 18Note E: Use with caution 11 28 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 9 6 12 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Spoke to anyone associated with work about any of the behaviours
YesTable 5 Note 5 51 46 55 20Note * 15 25 34Note E: Use with caution 24 46 24Note E: Use with caution 16 35 52 46 57 33Note * 23 45
The person or people responsible 26 21 31 33Note E: Use with caution 21 47 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 29 22 37 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
A supervisor, boss, or senior manager 46 40 53 39Note E: Use with caution 26 54 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 41 33 50 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Another co-worker, including one of your employees 72 67 78 46Note E: Use with caution Note * 34 60 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 74 66 80 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
A human resources advisor or corporate security officer 6 4 8 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 3 2 6 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
A union representative 3 2 5 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
An ombudsperson or someone responsible for the welfare of employees 1 1 3 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Someone else associated with your work 3 2 5 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
No 48 44 52 78Note * 73 83 62Note E: Use with caution 50 73 73Note E: Use with caution 63 82 46 40 52 64Note * 53 74
Filed a formal complaint or grievance
YesTable 5 Note 5 7 5 9 5 3 10 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 5 3 9 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
No 93 91 95 94 90 97 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 95 91 97 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
Experienced negative consequences after speaking to someoneTable 5 Note 6
YesTable 5 Note 5 14 10 19 22 12 38 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 10 6 15 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
No 84 79 88 73 58 84 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published 86 80 91 Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published Note F: too unreliable to be published
E use with caution
F too unreliable to be published
Note *

significantly different from reference category (p < 0.05)

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Note †

reference category

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Note 1

Includes sexual jokes, unwanted sexual attention, inappropriate sexual comments, and inappropriate discussion about sex life.

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Note 2

Includes displaying, showing, or sending sexually explicit messages or materials, and taking or posting inappropriate or sexually suggestive photos or videos of co-workers without consent.

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Note 3

Includes indecent exposure or inappropriate display of body parts, repeated pressure from the same person for dates or sexual relations, unwelcome physical contact or getting too close, and offering workplace benefits for engaging in sexual activity or being mistreated for not engaging in sexual activity.

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Note 4

These questions come from the Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD) tool, a front-line assessment tool used to identify individuals who should be referred to further psychological and psychiatric treatment for the disorder. The tool is designed to assess whether an individual demonstrates key effects related to the core PTSD symptoms of re-experiencing, numbing, avoidance and hyperarousal. If an individual answers ‘yes’ to any three of the four questions, the presence of PTSD is suspected. It is crucial to note that the PC-PTSD is not a diagnostic tool, and a suspicion of PTSD is not the same as a diagnosis. In a clinical setting, a positive score on the PC-PTSD would indicate that the patient should be referred for more in-depth assessment and possible diagnosis.

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Note 5

Includes respondents who said "yes" or "for some behaviours yes, for others no". Responses of "don't know" are not shown but are included in calculations.

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Note 6

Based on respondents who spoke to someone about at least one behaviour.

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Note: Includes those who experienced (targeted, directed at them personally) sexualized behaviours in the past 12 months. Includes behaviours which occurred in the workplace and outside the workplace involving coworkers. The terms "women" and "men" include trans and cisgender women and men. Percent calculations are based on unrounded estimates and exclude missing responses.
Source: Statistics Canada, Survey on Sexual Misconduct at Work.
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