Gender-Based Violence & Harassment (GBVH)
Date Published: 12/04/2024
Why is GBVH a Key Issue in Construction?
Unsafe Work Conditions: GBVH includes bullying, intimidation, sexual harassment, and other harmful behaviors, creating unsafe environments in construction workplaces.
High-Risk Situations: Women, LGBTQ individuals, and persons of color face increased risks due to discrimination, gender stereotypes, and exclusionary workplace cultures.
Power Imbalances: Traditional male-hierarchical structures and lack of accountability can exacerbate harassment and exploitation - especially in the world of construction.
Benefits of Addressing GBVH on the Jobsite
Safer Workplaces: Enhances physical and emotional well- being, fostering a more inclusive and secure environment.
Workforce Equity: Reduces barriers for marginalized groups, creating opportunities for advancement and retention.
Legal and Reputational Protection: Mitigates risks of lawsuits, financial losses, and reputational harm for companies and contractors.
GBVH Toolbox Talk Key Terms
Gender-Based Violence: refers to harmful acts directed at individuals based on their gender. It encompasses physical, sexual, psychological, or economic harm, including threats, coercion, or deprivation of freedom, and is rooted in power imbalances and societal norms that perpetuate inequality.
Workplace Harassment: refers to unwelcome behavior, conduct, or actions in a work environment that create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive atmosphere. It includes verbal, physical, or visual acts based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, religion, or other protected traits, and may interfere with an individual's ability to perform their job.
Workplace violence refers to any act or threat of physical harm, intimidation, harassment, or disruptive behavior that occurs in a work setting. It can involve employees, employers, clients, or visitors and ranges from verbal abuse to physical assaults, posing risks to safety and well-being.
The Jobsite Talk: No Tolerance for GBVH
GBVH on construction worksites endangers not only the immediate safety and mental health of workers but also the overall integrity of the workplace. Addressing GBVH is essential to foster a culture of safety, trust, and respect, ensuring that all workers can thrive in a secure, team-oriented environment.
GBVH manifests as bullying, intimidation, sexual harassment, and other harmful behaviors. These acts are not isolated—they create unsafe environments where workers feel devalued and vulnerable. What happens to all us when GBVH is present on our worksite?
Compromised Mental Health
Impacts: Stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion.
Consequences: Reduced productivity, increased absenteeism, focus, and workplace satisfaction.
Physical Safety Risks
Hazards: Increased accidents, distractions, and lapses in judgment.
Outcomes: Escalated injuries and risks for workers and coworkers.
Erosion of Team Dynamics
Challenges: Breakdown of trust and exclusion of marginalized groups (women, LGBTQ+ individuals, persons of color).
Result: Decreased collaboration and high turnover rates.
Legal and Financial Consequences
Risks: Lawsuits, investigations, and reputational damage. Impacts: Increased costs and delays in project timelines.
Workplace Culture Impact
Issues: Perpetuation of unsafe norms, barriers to inclusion, and reduced diversity.
Result: Loss of skilled workers and stunted industry growth.
Wider Health Implications
Health Problems: PTSD, substance abuse, and deteriorating physical health.
Impact: Long-term harm to workers’ personal and professional lives.
Discussion Questions
What actions can you take to help create a safer and more respectful workplace for everyone?
Who can you talk to if you witness or experience gender-based violence or harassment on site?
Management Sidebar: Why is Jobsite GBVH so Dangerous for Our Company?
Use this portion of the Toolbox Talk to discuss GBVH impacts for your organization, and why it’s critical for management and leadership to address issues in a timely and professional fashion. Consult with your HR department for further planning and action steps or visit the websites below.
Compromised Mental Health
Chronic Stress and Anxiety: Workers subjected to bullying, harassment, or intimidation often experience heightened stress levels, anxiety, and feelings of isolation.
Depression and Burnout: Persistent GBVH can lead to severe mental health challenges, including depression, reduced job satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion.
Impact on Productivity: Mental health struggles reduce focus, increase errors, and decrease overall productivity, affecting individual workers and project timelines.
Physical Safety Risks
Distraction from Critical Tasks: Workers experiencing harassment may lose focus, increasing the likelihood of accidents or mistakes in hazardous environments.
Hostile Interactions: GBVH incidents can escalate into physical altercations or violence, posing immediate safety threats.
Fatigue and Errors: Mental and emotional fatigue caused by hostile environments can lead to lapses in judgment, impacting personal and coworker safety.
Erosion of Team Dynamics
Breakdown of Trust: GBVH fosters a culture of fear and mistrust, reducing team cohesion and effective collaboration.
Marginalization of Workers: Targeted individuals, often women, LGBTQ individuals, and persons of color, may feel excluded or unsupported, further isolating them from team interactions.
High Turnover Rates: Persistent hostility leads to higher employee turnover, creating workforce instability and increased costs for recruitment and training.
Legal and Financial Consequences
Workplace Violations: GBVH creates an unsafe work environment, violating workplace safety laws and regulations.
Increased Liability: Employers face legal and financial risks from lawsuits or investigations due to failure to prevent and address GBVH.
Delays and Reputational Damage: Projects may face delays due to call-outs/absences, cancellations, or damage to reputations when GBVH incidents are mishandled or ignored.
Impact on Workplace Culture
Perpetuation of Unsafe Norms: Allowing GBVH to persist normalizes unsafe and discriminatory behaviors, making it harder to create inclusive environments.
Loss of Skilled Workers: Marginalized individuals, such as women and LGBTQ workers, are often forced out of the industry, reducing diversity and limiting access to skilled talent.
Barriers to Progress: A toxic culture inhibits innovation and growth, making the industry less appealing to new generations of workers. It also impacts completion schedules.
Wider Health Implications
Post-Traumatic Stress: Long-term exposure to harassment or violence can lead to PTSD, with lasting impacts on a worker’s personal and professional life.
Health Deterioration: Stress and anxiety from GBVH often manifest as physical health issues, including high blood pressure, fatigue, and weakened immune responses.
Substance Abuse: Some workers may turn to drugs or alcohol as coping mechanisms, further compromising safety and health.
Additional Resources
WA L&I: Workplace Bullying, Violence, and Incivility: https://ww.lni.wa.gov/safety -health/safety -research/ongoing-projects/workplace-bully ing
WA State Human Rights Commission: Employment Law Against Discrimination: https://www.hum.wa.gov/employment
