The risk of sexual harassment of teleworkers: organizational and individual influences

Purpose The rise of telework, driven by technological advances and changes in organizational culture, has redefined work structures, presenting both opportunities and challenges for employee well-being. This study examines how traditional issues like sexual harassment (SH) have evolved in this new context, focusing on how organizational and individual factors influence the risk of SH among teleworkers. Design/methodology/approach This study uses data from the Sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), analysing the determinants of SH among teleworkers compared to face-to-face workers. Findings The results reveal that teleworkers experience lower levels of SH and similar levels of unwanted sexual attention. The factors explaining unwanted attention are almost the same for both groups of workers, while the factors explaining SH differ between the two groups. Personal characteristics such as age and gender have less impact on the risk of SH for teleworkers than for face-to-face workers. Peer support plays a crucial role in mitigating SH for face-to-face workers but is less effective for teleworkers. Research limitations/implications Our results suggest that teleworking can be an effective deterrent of SH, by minimizing physical interactions and changing traditional power dynamics. Telework should not disadvantage the victim, but it can serve as temporary protection during, for example, harassment investigations or before actions are taken against the harasser. Originality/value There is a gap in research on the phenomenon of SH among remote workers, whether digital harassment or not. Studies on this topic are few and far between.