Workplace technology-facilitated sexual harassment: Perpetration, responses and prevention

Workplace technology-facilitated sexual harassment (WTFSH) involves unwelcome and/or threatening sexual conduct using mobile, online and other digital technologies in a workplace context. While much is known about the extent of sexual harassment victimisation, there has been little research on WTFSH specifically. The limited available literature indicates that WTFSH is prevalent and growing, with young people and women particularly at risk of victimisation (AHRC, 2022; Adams et al., 2019). What is notably lacking in Australian research and policy is knowledge of the behaviours, characteristics and specific drivers of WTFSH perpetration and how industry (employers, technology platforms and government) might better prevent, detect and respond to WTFSH, especially given the increasingly digital nature of workplaces and workplace communications in a post-pandemic environment. This project responds directly to these substantial research and policy gaps and is the first mixed methods study to examine WTFSH in Australia.