Preventing sexual harassment at work 

Sexual harassment is a major problem in terms of employment, wellbeing at work, careers and gender equality in working life. 

According to a survey by Statistics Finland, 54 per cent of women and 14 per cent of men in Finland have experienced sexual harassment in their workplace (EU’s Gender-based Violence Survey 2024). The latest Gender Equality Barometer survey, which covers the year 2024, shows that almost half of women and more than a third of men had had such experiences in the past two years. 

Sexual and gender-based harassment is prohibited by law. 

Report on promising practices for preventing sexual harassment

A project launched by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health compiled measures for preventing sexual harassment. The project prepared a report that presents promising practices for preventing and addressing sexual harassment. These practices focus not only on promoting equality but also on how workplaces collect information on sexual harassment and on how the prevention of sexual harassment is taken into account in strategic development.  

The practices include clear and documented processes, appointment of harassment contact persons, regular training, anonymous reporting channels and systematic risk assessments. 

The report is based on a background study, on questionnaires and interviews with actors in working life and on up-to-date research data and statistics. 

• Report: Promising practices for preventing sexual harassment at work (in Finnish)

The report produced in the project and its publication webinar provide support for development work and give examples of promising practices for preventing sexual harassment at work. 

• Link to the webinar recording (in Finnish)

Commitment of working life actors to eradicating sexual harassment

Based on the questionnaires and interviews used for the report, a commitment was drawn up to take practical measures to eradicate sexual harassment. The aim is to strengthen gender equality and safety in working life by preventing sexual harassment. The commitment is intended to bring about concrete changes in Finnish working life. 

• Commitment to measures to eradicate sexual harassment at work (in Finnish)

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health invites all actors in the labour market to join the commitment.

• You can join the commitment here (in Finnish) 

The commitment has so far been signed by the following parties:

the Confederation of Union for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava), the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL), Local Government and County Employers (KT), the Service Union United (PAM), the Union of Journalists in Finland, the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses (SuPer), the Finnish Confederation of Professionals (STTK), the Technology Industries of Finland, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and the Union of Health and Social Care Professionals (Tehy).It is hoped that those who have joined the commitment will expand it by inviting others to get involved. 

Development work continues

The project runs between 2025 and 2026.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will gather information from the parties to the commitment in early 2027. The aim is to share experiences and views on the prevention of sexual harassment and to discuss how working life can be made even safer and more equal in future.