One in Ten (8%) Women in Canada Has Worked in a "Sexually Exploitative" Work Environment

Toronto, ON - Continuing the focus on physical and sexual assault and harassment against women, an new Ipsos Reid poll conducted exclusively for Global News has revealed that one in ten (8%) women in Canada has `worked in a workplace that has been sexually exploitative - tolerant of serious wrong, persistent, sexual harassment and real or potential sexual assault'. While most (85%) women haven't witnessed or experienced harassment, physical or sexual assault in the workplace, 3% have been forced into a sexual encounter at work or by a work colleague, and 2% have been physically assaulted at work or by a colleague. In more detail, the data revealed the following:

• 5% have been persistently stalked and sexually harassed in the workplace by a person in management who hit on them in an unwelcome way.
• 2% have been forced into a sexual encounter without their consent by a person who was a manager or more authoritative person. 1% has been forced into a sexual encounter without their consent by a co-worker.
• 2% have been slapped in the workplace with an open hand with serious intent to hurt them because of something they did or did not do. 1% has been punched with a closed fist with serious intent to hurt them in the workplace because of something they did or did not do.

Focusing on those women who have been harassed or assaulted, the data reveal that in many instances the victims didn't do or say anything about it, and just tolerated the behaviour. The chart below outlines various actions they could have taken, and whether they took those actions all of the time, some of the time, or never.

(Click to enlarge image)

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between January 17th to 23rd, 2015, on behalf of Global News. For this survey, a sample of 2,150 Canadian women ages 18+ (including a sample of n=645 women who have had an unwanted sexual encounter) was interviewed via the Ipsos I-Say online panel. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/ - 2.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian women ages 18+ been surveyed, and within +/- 4.4 percentage points had all women who had been involved in an unwanted sexual encounter been surveyed. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Jennifer McLeod Macey
Vice President
Ipsos Public Affairs
(416) 324-2108
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.

With offices in 86 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,712,4 million (2 274 M$) in 2013.

Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.