The commute to work is widely understood to have beneficial qualities as it can provide a valuable buffer between personal and professional lives. Research from the University of Iowa reminds us, however, that these benefits don’t emerge when you’re abused during the journey.
The researchers identified several factors that can impact work engagement and productivity after experiencing harassment during one’s commute:
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- Proximity to work: The closer the harassment occurs in both distance and time to your workplace, such as right before you enter your office building rather than 30 minutes before your commute, the more likely it is to disrupt your productivity.
- Social identity threats: Harassment often targets a person’s social identity, like their sexual orientation, gender, religion, or disability. Such threats can trigger strong emotional reactions and create more distractions from work.
- Reactions to harassment: People may experience feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame when they regret how they responded to harassment. These thoughts and emotions can continue to occupy their minds and affect their work.
- Bystander reactions: The actions of bystanders in response to harassment can worsen the situation. If bystanders do nothing, it can intensify the emotional impact, as it combines fear, anger, and the embarrassment of being observed in that situation. Bystanders’ behaviors, whether offering help, doing nothing, or even participating in the harassment, can influence how the person experiencing harassment reacts.
What we can do
It’s important to ensure that people can concentrate on their tasks when they’re at work. But we can’t expect them to forget about everything else in their lives. Harassment in public spaces, especially affecting women, is a common problem. It’s not something to be ashamed of, and it’s not confined to personal life; it can affect work too. Modern workplaces should consider this when setting expectations for their employees.
In the 21st century, employers must acknowledge the broader context of their employees’ lives. Harassment is a societal issue that can’t be ignored. When employees come to work, their personal experiences come with them. Understanding this and creating an inclusive and supportive environment is essential for a productive workforce.
To summarize, for a focused and effective workforce, we must recognize the real-life challenges employees face. Acknowledging the impact of harassment in public spaces and fostering a supportive workplace is crucial in today’s world.
Giving control back
“Try to give them some control back over their life, and you can try to meet them with support, and put people around them who allow them to flex in ways that give them control,” the researchers explain. “Managers may be dealing with people who are getting little sleep at night because they’re actually getting up two hours early to take multiple trains so they can avoid a particular area. There are all these opportunities for managers to get to know the particular risks that their employees are taking, and not judge them for it, but use it as an opportunity to demonstrate acceptance of who they are.”
Companies have a role to play in addressing stranger harassment. They can promote awareness about this issue, provide training for employees to respond effectively, take responsibility for creating harassment-free areas around their offices, and support alternative commuting options to ensure safer travel to work.
While corporate social responsibility efforts often center on environmental sustainability and workplace safety, prioritizing community safety presents a valuable opportunity for corporations to make a meaningful impact.
