One in four healthcare workers have been sexually harassed by colleagues, research shows

The research, commissioned by The Barrister Group, reveals the true extent of the toxic cultures that still exist in many workplaces.

Groping, stroking, inappropriate comments, and threats that it would harm their career if they did not return sexual advances were among the unwanted attention received, mostly from colleagues in senior roles.

Victims described feeling violated, intimidated, ashamed, degraded and scared, but many chose to stay silent rather than report it for fear they would be treated negatively as a result.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of the 285 healthcare workers surveyed had experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour from a colleague and over half (58 per cent) said the perpetrator was senior to them.