Abstract

This study aims to examine how an employee’s perception of the workplace’s sexual harassment affects their work performance and mental health. A qualitative study was conducted wherein one hundred participants aged between 18 and 55 years were interviewed, focusing on perceptions and experiences of participants in relation to sexual harassment. The emergent themes included feelings of shame, fear of retaliation, feelings of regret and self-blame, and choice to suffer in silence. The findings revealed a large number of unreported cases of harassment where victims have chosen to remain silent and offenders go unpunished because of fear and retaliation. When a case is reported, the victim becomes the problem, and the offender is left to roam freely without any sanctions from upper management. There is a need for a cultural shift and more robust mechanisms to ensure justice and support for victims, as organizations employ considerable power over the communication landscape, leaving victims without a voice.