Identifying sexual harassment in the workplace in health care

Diplomsko delo predstavlja problem spolnega nadlegovanja na delovnem mestu na podlagi slovenske in tuje teorije ter se osredotoča na ugotavljanje pojava spolnega nadlegovanja na delovnem mestu v zdravstvu. Izhodišča: Dosedanje raziskave nasilja in spolnega nadlegovanja na delovnem mestu kažejo, da so zdravstveni delavci le temu izpostavljeni bolj kot delavci v drugih panogah. V okviru diplomskega dela smo raziskali prepoznavanje in pojavnost spolnega nadlegovanja na delovnem mestu med študenti zdravstvene nege. Metode: Raziskava je temeljila na kvantitativni metodologiji, saj je bila opravljena s pomočjo anketnega vprašalnika, katerega je izpolnilo sto izrednih študentov Fakultete za zdravstvene vede Univerze v Mariboru, ki so že zaposleni v eni izmed zdravstvenih ustanov. Pridobljene podatke smo obdelali s pomočjo računalniškega programa Microsoft Excel in jih grafično prikazali. Rezultati: Ugotovili smo, da se zaposleni v zdravstvu srečujejo s spolnim nadlegovanjem na delovnem mestu - na delovnem mestu je že bilo spolno nadlegovanih 16 % anketiranih, priča spolnemu nadlegovanju pa jih je bilo 17 %. Glede na odgovore se anketirani največkrat soočajo s šalami s seksualno vsebino, žvižganjem, opazkami in tako imenovanimi »slučajnimi« telesnimi dotiki. Ugotovili smo tudi, da so bolj pogosto nadlegovane ženske ter da so najpogostejši nadlegovalci sodelavci, nato bolniki in nadrejeni. V kolikor pa pride do neprijetnega dogodka, ga žrtve obdržijo zase in ne ukrepajo niti na formalen niti neformalen način. Medtem ko se za žrtev spolnega nadlegovanja opredeljuje 16 % anketiranih, smo posredno ugotovili, da jih je že bilo spolno nadlegovanih vsaj 26 %. Zaključki: Na podlagi opravljene raziskave zaključujemo, da je spolno nadlegovanje v zdravstvu precej prisotno in da bi zdravstvene institucije morale posvečati več pozornosti informiranju zaposlenih in ustvarjanju primernega delovnega okolja.The thesis presents the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace on the basis of the theory originating in Slovenia as well as from abroad, and focuses on sexual harassment in the workplace in health care. Starting points: The research on violence and sexual harassment carried out to date has shown that health care workers are more exposed to sexual harassment than workers in other sectors. In the framework of the present thesis we have conducted a research among students of health sciences on how frequently sexual harassment occurs in the workplace in health care and on the workers’ ability to recognize certain behaviour as sexual harassment. Methods: The research was based on quantitative methodology as it was carried out using a survey questionnaire which was filled out by one hundred part-time students at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Maribor, who are already employed in a health institution. The data obtained has been processed with the Microsoft Excel software and graphically presented. Results: We have established that workers in health care do encounter sexual harassment in the workplace, namely 16 % of our respondents have endured sexual harassment, while 17 % have witnessed it. According to their answers, respondents mostly face jokes with sexual content, wolf-whistling, different remarks and presumably “accidental” physical touches. We have also ascertained that it is most often women who fall victim to harassment and that the most frequent perpetrators of sexual harassment are their co-workers, followed by patients and superiors. If an incident does occur, however, they keep it to themselves and do not take formal nor informal measures. While merely 16 % of our respondents claim to have been victims of sexual harassment, we have indirectly established that at least 26 % of them have indeed fallen prey to it. Conclusions: Based on the research carried out we can conclude that sexual harassment is fairly present in health care and that health institutions should devote more attention to informing the employees and creating an appropriate working environment