Survey finds one in three French workers face workplace harassment as legal awareness stalls

A nationwide survey conducted by Ipsos BVA for workplace wellbeing consultancy Qualisocial and employer law union AvoSial shows that 33% of French workers have experienced workplace harassment during their professional lives. The figure matches results recorded in the initial barometer four years earlier, with 15% of respondents reporting multiple occurrences of harassment. In addition, 40% of employees report having witnessed workplace harassment, while 74% consider such misconduct to be widespread across French workplaces. The study, conducted among a sample of 2,000 participants, indicates that harassment rates remain persistent across both private and public employment sectors.

Exposure across sectors and age groups

Vulnerability varies significantly depending on contract type and sector. Public sector employees report the highest exposure rate at 81%, followed by part-time workers at 47% and workers on fixed-term contracts, temporary roles, or apprenticeships at 44%. Age and gender also reflect clear disparities, with 42% of workers under 25 years old reporting exposure, compared to 38% of women and 28% of men. Exposure to harassment through digital channels, including emails, SMS, instant messaging, and social networks, affects 53% of workers aged 18–24, compared to 19% among those aged 45 and older. Work organization factors also contribute to these dynamics, as changing organizational patterns weaken social cohesion.

The evolution of work models means there is less space to create collective bonds and build this solidarity.

Knowledge gaps and reporting barriers

Although the proportion of employees who feel informed about harassment legislation increased from 35% to 50% over four years, practical identification remains limited. Only 54% of surveyed employees accurately identify a legally defined case of sexual harassment when presented with concrete examples. Furthermore, internal support mechanisms suffer from low visibility, with less than one-third of employees aware of reporting channels in their organization, and only 21% believing their colleagues are trained to detect abusive situations. Fear of retaliation suppresses complaints, as 50% of employees worry that submitting a report would harm their career prospects, a concern felt most acutely by women and workers under 25.

In France, culturally, we tolerate micro-inappropriate behaviors enormously, we let them take hold.

Legislative action and employer recommendations

The survey findings coincide with legislative debates in the French National Assembly starting on Thursday regarding a comprehensive bill against sexist and sexual violence. One provision in the proposed text mandates that sexual harassment prevention become a compulsory topic in collective bargaining negotiations across companies and industry branches. Qualisocial leadership advised that prevention frameworks should avoid focusing exclusively on sexual misconduct to ensure that psychological harassment receives equal organizational attention. The authors of the study called on employers to introduce training modules based on concrete workplace scenarios, guarantee impartial investigation procedures, and clarify the roles and availability of internal designated contact persons.