Workplace sexual harassment remains a serious national problem, and New York City sees these trends as clearly as the rest of the country. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects workers from workplace discrimination that includes harassment involving obscene and sexual statements or sexual assault. Data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) shows how widespread this harm remains and why workers benefit from knowing their rights.
Recent EEOC data showing rising harassment concerns
The EEOC received 27,291 sexual harassment charges between fiscal years 2018 and 2021. That period began right after the rise of the #MeToo movement and charge numbers increased by more than 13% in 2018 alone.
The agency also recorded 7,609 charges in 2018 compared to 6,696 in 2017 with women filing most of these charges. EEOC records show that women filed 78.2% of sexual harassment claims during that four-year span and 62.2% of all harassment claims involving any protected basis.
Black workers faced especially high risks, and 71.2% of sexual harassment charges filed with a concurrent race claim identified the worker as Black or African American. Hispanic and Mexican workers also filed a significant number of national origin-linked harassment claims.
Additionally, 90% of workers who experience harassment never file a complaint because of fear of retaliation. These numbers lead into the broader issue of unequal treatment across gender and race lines.
How important are these trends for New York workers?
New York employees deserve safe, respectful workplaces. Harassment harms health, job security and long-term career progress. A worker who documents incidents, gathers witness names and reviews their employee handbook strengthens their position before taking their next steps. An experienced employment attorney can also help a worker understand their legal options and advocate for their rights.