Modern Healthcare – August 12, 2019

August 12, 2019 | Modern Healthcare 13

tal administrators.”
Johnson said he wasn’t sur-
prised by Modern Healthcare’s
findings and actually expect-
ed the numbers to be slightly
higher, suggesting that under-
reporting is likely at play. There
is a clear power structure in
hea lt hca re t hat a l lows ha rassment a nd assau lt to breed, he
said, adding, “You have a hierarchical power differential
where senior people prey on junior people.”
Even so, there are signs the culture is improving,
albeit slightly. Younger women who responded to the sur-
vey were less likely to report experiencing sexual harass-
ment than older woman. Nearly 19% of women ages 18

Said they did

not report it.

32.4%

38.3%

have experienced sexual

harassment

in the workplace

have witnessed sexual

harassment

in the workplace

35%

Of the 320 written responses to the questions of what was

done to address the incidents of gender discrimination

or sexual harassment they experienced or witnessed... Said nothing

was done.

Gender discrimination and harassment quantified

have experienced

gender discrimination

in the workplace

have witnessed

gender discrimination

in the workplace

26.4%

32.6%

11%

Percentage reporting they:

Source: Modern Healthcare research and Modern Healthcare Metrics

to 34 said they’ve been subjected to sexual harassment,

which is lower than the 26% of women ages 35 and older

who said they were harassed.

Several factors likely contribute to this contrast including

changing cultural norms, the rise of women in medicine

and growing awareness about the importance of diversity

and inclusion.

“Maybe it’s a sign of progress,” said Candice Saunders,

CEO of WellStar Health System, during a panel at the Wom-

en Leaders in Healthcare conference. She recalled that at

the beginning of her 40-year career a man asked her to get

him a cup of coffee before she was supposed to present at a

management meeting.

The #MeToo movement raised more awareness about t he

issue as well. Kety Duron, chief human resources officer at

See more results

from our survey

examining gender

bias and workplace

harassment in Data

Points, p. 33.

PHOTOS: RYAN LEWIS

“One of the men looked over at me

and said, ‘Would you mind getting me

a cup of coffee?’ ... I’m not sure what

he thought my role was, but he didn’t

think I would be presenting.”

Candice Saunders

CEO

WellStar Health System