Silent Witnesses
October 29, 2024
Most incidents of workplace harassment or discrimination don’t happen in isolation, yet they often remain unreported. Witnesses, who could be valuable allies in addressing toxic behavior, typically don’t speak up. By tackling the issue of witness underreporting, employers can gain crucial insights and address issues before they escalate, creating a safer and more inclusive work environment.
More common than you think
Research shows that at least 70% of incidents of workplace harassment or discrimination still go unreported, with marginalized groups disproportionately affected. For example:
81% of women report experiencing sexual harassment in their lifetime, and 76% of transgender individuals report harassment at work
68% of people of color have reported experiencing or witnessing discrimination in the workplace
90% of LGBTQ+ individuals report encountering some form of workplace discrimination or bias
While these incidents are often not reported directly to HR, they are not occurring unnoticed. In Spot’s survey of over 1,000 employees, 79% reported witnessing an incident of harassment or discrimination within the past five years, and 42% within the past year.
Witnesses are talking—but not to HR
Spot’s research shows that most witnesses of workplace harassment and discrimination do talk to someone—just not to HR.
67% of witnesses confide in someone outside of work (like a friend or family member)
46% discuss what they saw with a colleague at work
A staggering 77% of witnesses never report the incident to HR or anyone who could take action
This silence can contribute to a “social contagion” effect, where negative experiences spread within the workplace, eroding trust and damaging culture. Without proper reporting channels, toxic behavior festers, leading to costly consequences.
Why don’t witnesses speak up?
Like victims, witnesses often feel disempowered to take action. In our survey, witnesses cited several reasons for not reporting harassment or discrimination:
Fear of retaliation (34%)
Not wanting to interfere (29%)
Not knowing witnesses could report (22%)
Concern about being labeled a “snitch” (18%)
Lack of knowledge on how to report (16%)
The high cost of witness underreporting
Witness underreporting has serious implications. When organizations don’t learn about issues early, they miss the opportunity to address them before they escalate. Harassment and discrimination can lead to increased legal, healthcare, training, and turnover costs. In fact, the annual cost of sexual harassment alone—from absenteeism, lost productivity, and turnover—exceeds $6 million per large organization.
Employees suffer too. Witnessing or experiencing harassment without a safe outlet to report can lead to depression, PTSD, high blood pressure, insomnia, and chronic stress.
How to encourage witness reporting
Based on Spot’s research, employers can encourage witness reporting by:
Offering multiple, flexible reporting options
Actively promoting witness reporting as part of company culture
Implementing automated, easy-to-use reporting systems
Clearly communicating how and where to report
The top recommendation from witnesses? Providing an anonymous reporting system, like Spot. Spot’s system allows employees to safely and anonymously talk through what happened without fear of judgment. And with Spot’s secure two-way communication and AI-assisted follow-ups, HR teams can ask follow-up questions and gather the information they need to take meaningful action.
Creating a culture where witnesses speak up
When witnesses feel supported and have access to anonymous reporting tools, organizations can address problems before they spiral out of control. This proactive approach helps mitigate legal risks, fosters trust, and builds a healthier workplace culture that retains talent.
Interested in more insights from our witness survey? Click this link to download the full report.
