Nearly half of staff in Wales report sexual harassment at work, TUC Cymru survey reveals
Nearly half of staff in Wales report sexual harassment at work, TUC Cymru survey reveals
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A new survey by TUC Cymru has revealed that nearly half of all workers in Wales have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, raising urgent concerns about safety, reporting systems and employer responsibility.
The Censuswide survey, which polled 2,000 employees across Wales, found that 46% of respondents had been victims of sexual harassment at work. 43% of men and 48% of women reported being affected, with the highest rates recorded in the architecture, engineering, and construction sectors where 66% of workers reported harassment.
Despite the severity of the findings, 8% of respondents said they did not know how to report an incident, while 7% said they avoided reporting due to fear of career repercussions. A further 10% stated they did not trust that their employer would believe them.
The report also highlighted a concerning lack of clear workplace policies: more than one in ten workers either confirmed their workplace had no formal sexual harassment policy, or they were unaware of one being in place.
Power dynamics and lack of safe reporting routes were flagged as key barriers. TUC Cymru says many workers feel pressured to tolerate harassment or even leave their jobs rather than come forward.
To combat the issue, TUC Cymru has launched its “We’ll Support You” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the support available through trade unions and equip union representatives with tools and training to address and prevent sexual harassment.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe at work. It’s shocking that, in 2025, nearly half of all workers in Wales have experienced sexual harassment at work. This has to stop. And that’s why we’re launching our We’ll Support You campaign,” said Shavanah Taj, TUC Cymru General Secretary.
“Trade unions and reps are ideally placed to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace. Our We’ll Support You campaign will show all workers in Wales that, if they experience or witness sexual harassment, their trade union rep will be there, a visible ally by their side, every step of the way.
“This campaign will empower trade union reps to negotiate with their employer and make sure they’re complying with the new Worker Protection Act. Ultimately, this campaign will reduce the amount of sexual harassment taking place in workplaces in Wales.”
From October 2024, the Worker Protection Act places places further responsibilities on employers to discipline or hold accountable those who are found guilty of sexual harassment. The legislation includes harassment from customers, clients, service users, or members of the public, and would include conduct in any event or situation related to work such as a Christmas party, client event, or messaging
Kay Stevens, a TSSA union rep, shared her personal experience of harassment and the response she received.
She said: “Now as a union rep, my experiences of workplace sexual harassment have made me even more passionate about ensuring that everyone is safe at work at all times. Everyone should feel safe in the workplace, and they deserve to have someone in their corner. Whether it’s happening now or happened a long time ago, I’d urge people to speak to their union reps. We’re here, we will listen and we will act.”
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