Study Shows Workplace Sexual Harassment Against Women Remains Stagnant Over Five Years

A new study from McKinsey and Lean In finds that women in the workplace continue to experience sexual harassment at a rate that hasn’t improved in 5 years. According to the 10^th anniversary report, “Women in the Workplace,” even though women have made important progress in the past decade, day-to-day interactions in the workplace look strikingly similar.

In recent years, companies across the nation have taken initiatives to increase support for women and foster inclusion. However, many of these initiatives have not made any real change for women. Rates of early career promotion continue to fall short of men and sexual harassment remains widespread.

Despite the emergence of the #MeToo movement, which saw many notable women sharing their experiences of workplace abuse and calling for reform, sexual harassment continues to be a significant issue today. The study revealed that only about half of women today feel confident that their employers would take appropriate action if they reported harassment, a statistic that has shown little improvement since 2018.

According to the study, women under 30 reported experiencing sexual harassment at the same rate as women over 30, suggesting that the problem has not lessened in recent years. The research also shows how approximately 40% of women in the workplace face this type of behavior at some point in their careers. This includes everything from inappropriate jokes to lewd comments.

Although companies have increased their efforts to promote inclusion through initiatives like bias and allyship training, employee behavior has not changed significantly. The study shows that the challenge stems from the fact that this training does not appear to foster greater awareness or action. Moreover, employees remain less inclined to identify bias against women or support women of color.

Another sign that progress has been minimal can be seen in promotion rates. According to the study, women are not being promoted from entry-level positions at the same rate as men. In 2024, for every 100 men promoted to manager roles, only 81 women received similar promotions—only a slight improvement from 79 women in 2018.

Another concern is that companies are beginning to push back against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in response to conservative criticism, which reflects a declining commitment to diversity. The study highlights this troubling trend, noting that “at a moment when companies should be doubling down on their efforts, there are early signs they are pulling back.”

Despite the concerning findings in the report, women have achieved significant progress in corporate leadership roles, now making up almost 30% of C-suite leaders. The study also demonstrates that “companies with more women in leadership benefit from greater innovation, healthier cultures, and stronger performance,” highlighting the positive impact of diverse leadership on organizational success.

Companies have much work ahead of them to achieve meaningful improvement in workplace equity. This includes investing in career development and sponsorship programs that actively address the unique challenges faced by women. Only through these efforts will we see a more inclusive and supportive environment for all employees.