Workplace sexual harassment cases and policy measures in business organisations

Purpose This paper aims to examine cases and incidents of workplace sexual harassment and propose policy measures to prevent and handle them in the Nepalese context. Design/methodology/approach It is based on document analysis and a survey. It raises two research questions and to address them, legal cases were analysed and a field survey was undertaken to collect the responses of female employees. Findings Sexual harassment is a serious and prevalent issue for female employees in Nepal. Sexual abuse, teasing and touching bodies are common forms of sexual harassment observed in Nepalese workplaces. Male colleagues, managers and clients/customers are accused as the main perpetrators. Some female employees are harassed through the use of social media including the internet, Facebook, Viber messaging, text messages and phone calls. At the organisational level, low employment opportunities, female employees’ involvement in informal sector work and less choice for them to shift jobs in the market are the major reasons for what is happening at workplaces for female employees. Research limitations/implications This paper excludes harassment cases of male employees. The nature and gravity of harassment issues and impacts vary across countries; thus, it is difficult to generalise the results of this research across countries. Practical implications This research could be an eye-opener for policymakers, managers and researchers to engage proactively and intensively in diagnosing and curing sexual harassment incidents in workplaces. Originality/value This paper provides evidence of sexual harassment cases and some policy measures to prevent and handle such problems at work. These measures can raise awareness among organisations and employees about the rights of women and the detrimental effects of sexual harassment.