top of page
Search

Not Just a Joke: How Workplace Harassment Harms Women

Hi, I’m Nada, a trauma-informed therapist supporting women's healing from abuse in all its forms.


When we talk about violence, we don’t always think about what happens at work. But the truth is, some of the most lasting wounds come from places where we’re supposed to feel safe and respected.


Maybe you’ve felt it.

Shrinking in meetings, brushing off comments that made your skin crawl, wondering if you were overreacting just to get through the day.


If that’s you, I want you to know: that you’re not imagining it. You’re responding to harm. And it can deeply affect your confidence, your peace, and your sense of self.


Let’s talk about what that means and how healing is possible.

What Is Workplace Harassment?


Workplace harassment includes any unwelcome behavior that demeans humiliates, or threatens someone especially when it's based on gender. It can look like sexual jokes, unwanted touching, invasive questions, inappropriate emails, leering, or repeated comments about your body or appearance.


It can also be more subtle, like being excluded from meetings, talked over, or consistently dismissed in decision-making. It’s not always loud or obvious, but it always chips away at your sense of safety and worth (OHRC, 2024).


Workplace harassment is a form of violence. It impacts nearly 40% of women, and despite increased awareness, those numbers haven’t changed in years (CBS News, 2024; AllVoices, 2024)

🤍 Even "Small" Harms Have a Big Impact


Harassment can also look like offhand jokes, lingering stares, or repeated dismissals. Even if the behavior seems minor on the surface, the impact adds up.


Research shows these experiences can cause anxiety, depression, PTSD, lowered self-esteem, headaches, sleep problems, and even digestive issues (National Academies, 2018; Everfi, 2024; Ontario Human Rights Commission [OHRC], 2024).


You carry these moments in your body they follow you home, into your sleep, into how you show up in relationships.


This isn’t just discomfort. It’s trauma.

👩‍💼 It Disrupts Careers and Confidence

Women who experience workplace harassment are more likely to report burnout, job dissatisfaction, and disengagement. Many leave roles they once loved simply to protect their mental health (Everfi, 2024; National Academies, 2018).

Harassment doesn’t just impact how you feel it directly affects your income, growth, and long-term career path. Almost 75% of women say harassment negatively affected their performance and sense of belonging (Everfi, 2024).

🔄 Why So Many Stay Silent


According to the 2024 Women in the Workplace report, 37% of women still face harassment, and only 50% trust their employer to handle it properly (AllVoices, 2024).


The McKinsey & Lean In study adds that these numbers haven’t improved in five years

, and younger women are just as likely to be targeted (CBS News, 2024).


It’s no wonder so many stay silent. Speaking up often feels riskier than enduring harm.

🪷 Real Prevention Needs Real Change

It’s not enough for companies to have a policy. Many workplaces offer one-time training that checks a box but does little to create safety.

Effective prevention requires cultural change: leadership accountability, ongoing training, bystander intervention, and empowering everyone to speak up (Everfi, 2024).

📣 What You Can Do

If this resonates with you, here are some gentle steps to begin reclaiming your safety:

  1. Name it. It’s not "just a joke." It’s harm.

  2. Write it down. Keep notes on what happened, when, and who was there.

  3. Talk to someone. You don’t have to carry this alone.

  4. Know your rights. In Ontario, your employer has a legal duty to protect you (OHRC, 2024).

  5. Report it if it’s safe. You can go through your workplace or file with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

You Deserve More

🌸 If this blog speaks to you, I want you to know: that what happened to you matters. You deserve more than just getting through the day.


At Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services, I offer a warm, judgment-free space where you can process what happened, rebuild your confidence, and feel safe in your skin again.✨


I’ve spent almost 10 years supporting women who have experienced sexual assault, workplace harassment, and violence. I also lead training sessions on these issues for organizations, helping them create safer, more respectful workplaces. Because of this, I understand what harassment and harm look like at work and how they affect your well-being.


With my experience in both counselling and training, I can offer you the support you need to heal and feel strong again.


You don’t have to carry this alone. 🩷


Warm Regards,


 

Nada Johnson, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist / trained Family Mediator / EMDR Trained Therapist / Certified Racial Trauma Clinician / Mental Health & Sexual Violence Consultant / Professional Speaker


Nada Johnson Consulting & Counselling Services - Online phone and video sessions available

Village Healing Centre: 240 Roncesvalles Avenue

C: 437-887-6146


Click here to join our newsletter and follow our platforms for empowering content, trauma recovery tools, and mental health support. Please share this post to help break the silence around trauma and promote healing in our communities. 🤝


📚 References

CBS News. (2024). Women in the Workplace: McKinsey & Lean In Report. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/women-workplace-mckinsey-leanin-2024-report-sexual-harassment/

AllVoices. (2024). 2024 Women in the Workplace Report. https://www.allvoices.co/blog/2024-women-in-the-workplace-report

EVERFI. (2024). The Effects of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. https://everfi.com/blog/workplace-training/the-effects-of-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace/

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). Sexual Harassment of Women. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519461/

Ontario Human Rights Commission. (2024). Sexual Harassment in Employment Fact Sheet. https://www3.ohrc.on.ca/en/sexual-harassment-employment-fact-sheet


Want More Support for Your Professional & Personal Growth?

🔷Try Potential Unlocked™


In addition to counseling, NJCCS offers coaching through our sister brand, Potential Unlocked™, designed specifically for professional women navigating career, leadership, and life transitions.


We support clients with:

  • Communication and conflict strategy in the workplace

  • Career development and leadership coaching

  • Navigating workplace dynamics and burnout recovery

  • Building confidence in both personal and professional relationships (Online dating empowerment coaching, because personal growth impacts professional life too!)


👉 Visit www.potentialunlocked.ca to learn more or book a free 10-minute consultation call.



Comments

bottom of page