Modern Healthcare – August 12, 2019

12 Modern Healthcare | August 12, 2019

By Maria Castellucci

Healthcare leaders

continue to overlook

assault, discrimination

THE TAKEAWAY

“I don’t think the older men in leadership

positions respect me at fi rst glance.”

T

HESE ARE THE EXPERIENCES of women

healthcare leaders who have been harassed or dis-

criminated against in the workplace at some point

in their careers. Th eir feedback was part of a Mod-

ern Healthcare survey that found 26% of the nearly 1,

participants experienced workplace sexual harassment and

about 32% have experienced gender discrimination.

Th e survey also found many organizations ignore the

problem. Of the respondents who experienced harassment

or discrimination, 35% said no action was taken when they

reported it to their employer.

Th e survey, released at the 9th annual Women Leaders in

Healthcare conference, included responses from 911 work-

ers in leadership positions across the industry. About 75%

of the respondents were women and 45% said they worked

“Several other women warned me

never to be alone with this person.”

“I was ultimately fi red because the harassment

came from the COO.”

“I quit my job. I knew rape would be next.”

in a hospital setting.

While research on the prevalence of harassment in

healthcare is sparse, it’s a well-known issue that hasn’t been

adequately addressed by leader-

ship, said Dr. Timothy Johnson, a

professor of women studies at the

University of Michigan who has

researched sexual harassment in

academic medical centers.

“One of the biggest issues is

that people don’t recognize the

degree of the problem and the

fact that it has a real impact on

women,” he said. “It hasn’t been

on the radar of CEOs and hospi-

About a quarter of

female healthcare

leaders have

experienced

workplace sexual

harassment and many

said nothing was done

when it was reported

to leadership.