How common is sexual harassment of female assistants in the workplace?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Or even worse, sexually harassed or subjected to unwanted avances?

Today I interviewed the woman that was forwarded to me for the role of driver and assistant factotum. We discussed the job, duties, pay, benefits and overall it was an introductory meeting.

I made it clear the job asks for a 24/7 availability and she might often start her day early in the morning and end late at night, although of course she will have her days off. She has experience in this line of work so she was nonplussed and found the proposed pay adequate for the role, and I reiterated that while she will have a variety of tasks, she will NOT be a maid or a secretary or anything like that and the 80% of her job will be driving from point A to point B and so on.

Then we talked about her past work experiences, and she mentioned she had refused an offer that was higher than mine because the guy mentioned she could "earn extra" for "extra personal tasks" *wink wink*.

I reassured her that anything of the sort is off the table with me and we agreed to get her training and trial period (fully paid) start next week.

What she said however stuck with me, because I know that and that there are women in the business that either put up with this, or even make sexual favors part of their job.

[fafylone]

I was sexually assaulted but I defended myself that they called a ambulance for the guy. I was working on share computer and it was 1 PM the office was empty. He got behind as I was sitting facing the computer. I didn't his arrival as he was quite. I don't wear clothes that show by skin & I wear a scarf. He touched my shoulder, as soon I felt his touch I stopped and faced my face to his direction then everything gone to fast then he slipped his right hand down to my chest. I get off my chair and slap him so hard that he was on floor then I took the computer's screen and throw it on him. I don't know how I got the power even the the fast reflex. But he still alive and I left the company as I couldn't work with him around me.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[TrueConfection]

VERY

More than you might think. Some are unwanted advances, some are conditional *wink wink* favors, and some are down right harassment.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Yeah.
Heard some horror stories about women being asked "conditional *wink wink* favors", refusing and getting fired a week later.

[OlderAndWiser]

I dated a few coworkers when i was younger but never anyone over whom i had any supervisory authority. But that is just me. I’m sure this happens frequently and never gets reported.

[NathanDavis]

way more common than promotions are...

[Kelley1]

It's not big deal. A women can always decline any extra offer or she can decide to be a whore for more money.