The repercussions of sexual harassment can linger long after the initial incident. This can be especially true when repeated interactions lead to a hostile work environment.
Knowing how this kind of harassment impacts your work and your mental health is important.
Intense fear and anxiety
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, various reactions to the continued harassment can leave you feeling insecure and confused. You may notice increased headaches or problems with panic as time goes on.
This atmosphere of worry can leave you scared to go to work due to the unwelcome conduct of an employee or boss. The frequency and severity of the comments can greatly impact your psychological well-being as well as your performance at your job.
Career struggles
After missing multiple days or weeks of work due to disruption, you may struggle to catch up on what you missed. Whether you are dealing with crude comments or sexual touching, it can lead to you feeling forced to take time off or avoiding certain people at your workplace.
Overall, your satisfaction with your career may plummet as time goes on. Ostracasion and humiliation from another person or superior could interfere with any of your professional ambitions, such as promotions.
Physical disturbances
Many incidents of sexual harassment occur when someone physically touches or grabs another person. After this happens, you may feel unsafe around other people at work. This can lead to panicked reactions and even injuries in extreme circumstances.
Knowing the mental and physical effects that sexual harassment can have on you is important for anyone dealing with a hostile work environment.