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Two Years Since Workplace Harassment Prohibition Law…3 Out of 10 Workers Still "Experiencing Harassment"

It has been two years since the Workplace Bullying Prohibition Act was enacted, but a survey found that some employees are still experiencing bullying. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I'm afraid of being retaliated against just for reporting harassment at work."

Although the so-called 'Workplace Harassment Prohibition Act' has been in effect for two years, workplace harassment incidents continue unabated, becoming a social issue. Those who suffer harassment often do not respond due to fear that reporting the issue to management will not reduce the harassment but rather lead to retaliation. Ultimately, some have endured such mental anguish that they attempted extreme measures, including taking their own lives, which is deeply regrettable.

Recently, there have been consecutive cases of employees taking their own lives. According to Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, on the morning of the 27th of last month, A (25) was found dead in a ground-level flower bed of a high-rise apartment in Gwangsan-gu. Investigations revealed that A had worked for 1 year and 1 month as a safety manager at an energy-related company in Gwangju.

Earlier, after finishing a company dinner that started at 7 p.m. on the 26th of last month, A headed toward a nearby apartment. Just before passing away, A sent a text message to the company’s labor committee stating that "frequent verbal abuse and physical assault by a certain superior are lowering employee morale." He also reportedly confided his troubles to his girlfriend and family by phone. The bereaved family claims that workplace harassment was the cause of A’s death.

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, B (25), a public official appointed through the January 9th-grade open competitive exam, also took their own life three months after being assigned to a department at Daejeon City Hall in July.

During their lifetime, B was reportedly instructed to "arrive an hour early to prepare tea, coffee, and tidy the desk for the superior." Feeling this was unfair, B refused, saying "I cannot do that," after which harassment began, including being ignored by team members.

In messenger conversations with acquaintances, B complained, "I'm the only administrative official, so others don't cooperate," "Even when I ask about work, I'm often told to figure it out and solve it on my own," and "I'm ostracized to the point where I can't even be invited to eat."

Despite the Workplace Harassment Prohibition Act being in effect for two years, many employees still suffer harassment.

Under current law, to qualify as workplace harassment, three conditions must all be met: ▲using positional or relational superiority within the workplace ▲exceeding the appropriate scope of work ▲and the act causing physical or mental pain to the worker or worsening the work environment.

However, proving this is not easy. To demonstrate workplace harassment, victims must secure as much evidence as possible, such as recording the perpetrator’s verbal abuse, which is itself difficult. Moreover, many cases are ambiguous as to whether they constitute harassment.

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As a result, many employees still report experiencing harassment at work. According to a survey conducted in June by Workplace Gapjil 119 and the Public Coexistence Solidarity Fund targeting 1,000 workers nationwide on 'Sensitivity to Gapjil and Workplace Harassment,' 32.9% responded that they had experienced workplace harassment in the past year. In other words, 3 out of 10 workers still suffer harassment at their companies. This is similar to the levels reported in September last year (36.0%), December (34.1%), and March this year (32.5%).

However, a significant number of these individuals did not take action due to fear of retaliation from the company. When asked about responses to workplace harassment (multiple answers allowed), 68.4% said they "endured it or pretended not to know." Only 2.4% reported it to the company or labor union, and just 3.0% reported it to relevant institutions such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor, National Human Rights Commission, or Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

The reasons for not reporting included "I don't think the situation will improve even if I respond" (62.3%) and "I fear disadvantages in future personnel matters" (27.2%).

Experts emphasize the need for proper promotion of the Workplace Harassment Prohibition Act. Labor attorney Kim Hyoshin (Sonamu Labor Law Office) said on YTN Radio, "It has been about two years since the Workplace Harassment Prohibition Act was enacted, but some people still do not know about it. Some consider all workplace mistreatment as gapjil, while others question, 'That's just how work life is; how can the law do anything about it?' So, more awareness is needed."

※ If you have difficult-to-talk-about concerns such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling at suicide prevention hotlines ☎1577-0199, Hope Phone ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, and Youth Phone ☎1388.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.