"Beyond the individual victim: Linking sexual harassment,
team processes and team performance"
No author cited
Academy of Management, June 2005
Available
online
A recent study published by the Academy of Management Journal suggests
unwanted sexual attention in the workplace can impact not only the individual
but overall workplace effectiveness and financial performance. The study
– conducted by professors from Queen's School of Business, Queen's University
and the University of Maryland – examined the correlation between team
cohesion and sexual harassment at a large U.S. food services organization.
Respondents were asked about the frequency of which they experience sexual
harassment and team conflict.
Sexual hostility, defined in the survey as telling offensive sexual jokes
or making sexual comments, accounted for one-third of group conflict. Of
144 female workers, thirty-one percent had experienced at least one sexually
harassing behavior within two years.
Sexual harassment accounted for 20 percent of team conflict. Sexist behaviors
only accounted for six percent of conflict, according to the study. Overall
researchers found that higher conflict among team members was related to
poor team performance, both functionally and financially.
The study surveyed 27 teams. The teams ranged in size from three to 19
members. The survey examined the responses of 203 total employees.
