Retaliation Strikes Over 50% of Workplace Assault Survivors

Lost my job without receiving compensation for the damages
When I returned to work, the department heads…

More than half of the victims who reported workplace sexual violence experienced disadvantages such as exclusion from work rather than receiving remedial measures, according to a survey.

A male superior is sexually harassing a female employee. (Reference photo) /KPG-Payless2-shutterstock.com

 

On the 14th, one year after the “Sin-dang Station stalking murder case,” the civic organization Workplace Bullying 119 held a symposium called “Creating a Workplace that Saves Women” at the National Assembly and revealed these analysis results and reported cases.

From March 2020 to May this year, Workplace Bullying 119 analyzed 595 reports of workplace sexual violence.

Among the 190 cases directly reported by the victims, it was found that the company took no action in 103 cases (54.2%).

Furthermore, there were 111 cases (58.4%) where the victims experienced disadvantages such as exclusion from work or public exposure to harassment.

Victim A said at the symposium, “I was sexually harassed and stalked at work, so I reported the perpetrator to the police and the Ministry of Labor, but the resolution was unsatisfactory. I lost my job without receiving any help as the police and the Ministry of Labor passed the responsibility back and forth.”

Victim B also revealed in an email sent to Workplace Bullying 119, “My married boss asked to meet separately, saying he liked me. I tried to keep my distance and only had minimal work conversations, but he contacted me even after work or on weekends. When I asked if this was workplace harassment, I was excluded from work.”

Victim C said, “I reported the boss who harassed and sexually harassed me at work. After returning to work, the department heads I work with know about the report. I don’t know how to deal with the company anymore.”

In response, Attorney Kim Eun-ho of Workplace Bullying 119 suggested, “It would be effective to establish a provision in the Stalking Punishment Act that holds companies accountable for neglecting stalking crimes and worsening working conditions, or to include sexual violence-related items in industrial accident prevention plans.”

The Sin-dang Station stalking murder case occurred on September 14th last year, around 9 p.m., in the Seoul Subway Line 2 Sin-dang Station women’s restroom. It was a case where Seoul Metro employee Jeon Ju-hwan (then 31) killed his colleague, a female station attendant (28), whom he had been stalking.