Overview

• The IAB study found that 20% of German employees have experienced sexual harassment at work, with women disproportionately affected (24% vs. 15% of men).
• Only 13% of firms with at least 50 employees reported incidents in the past two years, and just 1% of these cases involved managerial perpetrators.
• Victims often refrain from reporting harassment due to fear of negative consequences or skepticism about employer responses, with women expressing lower trust in managerial actions.
• 72% of companies with reported incidents experienced declines in morale and productivity, while nearly half reported increased absenteeism and staff turnover.
• Men’s risk of harassment varies significantly by industry, with higher rates in health, social services, public administration, and education sectors.