Key Findings

Of the 1,768 night-time workers surveyed, a shocking 34% had experienced some form of unwanted behaviour whilst working, or on their way to work, in the night-time economy. Other key statistics revealed that:

10% had experienced physical assault whilst working

7% had experienced sexual assault whilst working

25% of those who had been harassed experienced this 10+ times

These alarming statistics indicate that there is still far more that must be done to shift the pervasive culture of sexual harassment by perpetrators and protect employees from harassment and abuse.

Victims Of Harassment

It is crucial to note that harassment within the workplace does not impact all demographics equally. Women and men from Black and minority ethnic groups have consistently reported experiencing higher levels of harassment than their white counterparts within the workplace. Similar research by Plan UK and Our Streets Now also highlight the disproportionate levels of public sexual harassment perpetrated towards black and minority ethnic individuals.

Age

The survey results showed that younger respondents experience the highest levels of harassment. For example, 48% of respondents aged between 18-24 experienced some form of harassment whilst working in the night-time economy, compared to 26% of respondents aged 55.

Gender

44% of female respondents had experienced harassment of some kind whilst working in the night-time economy, compared with 26% of male respondents.

Sexual Orientation

It is also highly concerning that 68% of LGBTQ+ workers have experienced harassment in the workplace, and 12% reported being seriously sexually assaulted or raped at work.

Harassment From Strangers

Out of those respondents who had experienced harassment whilst working or on their way to work in the night-time economy, it was most common for the perpetrator to be a stranger (70%).

The law currently fails to protect employees frorm third party harassment. This means that staff are reliant on their employer creating an environment in which there is zero tolerance for this behaviour, although many employers are failing to do this. One respondent commented on this issue, saying:

“I reported it to the manager but nothing was done as it was a wedding guest”.

This sentiment is echoed by Peoplesafe's own research which found that 38% of employees feel let down by their employers and 29% of employees believe their employer could be doing more to protect them.

Employer Obligations

Employers have a critical role to play in addressing the concerns of employees when it comes to personal safety, and establishing a safe workplace. They have a clear duty to support their staff and take necessary actions to protect employees.

This includes implementing procedures to aid incident reporting and supporting employees when harassment does occur. Harassment should never be accepted as part of the job.

Is there a law to protect employees from harassment by strangers?

Yes
No

“When it was clear there was foul play the venue owner would eject the perpetrator. But often they would arrive on the scene and it’s their words against ours. And you know what they say… The customer is always right”

Changing Behaviours

The survey found that a quarter of respondents that had experienced harassment whilst working in the night-time economy had changed their behaviour as a result.

Many of the respondents who had experienced harassment at or on their way to work expressed fears relating to their journey home at night. One said that they, now “only drive home, not on public transport or walking”, and another said that they would always “drive instead of walking” as a result of the harassment they face. These findings reflect attitudes found in other similar studies:

26% of respondents who have experienced harassment have changed their place of work as a result

Previous research carried out by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust found that 88% of respondents had experienced unwanted behaviours on public transport in the last 5 years

Peoplesafe's own research found that 18% of respondents concerned about their safety started travelling to work with a colleague

Industries With The Highest Rates Of Harassment

The area of work with the most respondents who had experienced harassment was the hospitality industry (30%).

Hospitality deals with increased alcohol consumption and decreased inhibitions, which can facilitate abuse. 2020 figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 39% of those who were sexually assaulted reported that the perpetrator was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the abuse.

The health and social care industry was the next most represented sector accounting for 20% of respondents.

Industries that rely heavily on zero hours contracts, which provide no guaranteed minimum of paid work, often do not afford individuals' rights within the workplace to seek support when cases of harassment have occurred.

Statista found that almost one quarter of employees in the United Kingdom’s hospitality industry worked on a zero-hours contract as of 2022, the highest of any industry, closely followed by health and social care work at 20.6%.

This high rate of zero hour contracts can therefore perpetuate a culture in which harassment is permissible as perpetrators know they will not be held to account.