Is it OK to date a colleague; the jury is out according to Ipsos survey

Complimenting someone of the same gender (73%) or of the opposite gender (68%) and hugging and consoling a colleague (65%) are acceptable workplace behaviors. However, there are some behaviors that get the thumbs down from both men and women: displaying material sexual in nature (68%); pestering a colleague for a date when he/ she has refused (67%); telling sexual jokes or stories (65%).

The jury is still out on whether it is OK to date a colleague, the views were quite polarized here, 46% favoring and 45% rejecting it.

8th March is International Women’s Day 2020. Keeping in with this year’s theme of Generation Equality, #EachForEqual, Ipsos, a global market research company, conducted a global survey to map behaviors at workplace and how women grapple with it.

“With stringent norms for workplace behavior and sexual harassment policy, it’s becoming increasingly important for employees to conduct themselves appropriately at their place of work. Our survey clearly brings out acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and how to deal with inappropriateness,” said Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India.

Calling out for inappropriate behavior

More number of urban Indians polled have shown, they believe in taking up the cudgels against what they feel is inappropriate behavior: 61% would confront a man harassing a woman in a public place; 59% would tell off a junior colleague who makes a sexist comment; 57% would confront family/ friend making a sexist comment and 54% would confront a senior colleague making a sexist remark.

Actions detrimental to women’s career – do women stand singled out? Both genders are equally impacted, actually

Unlike popular perception that women face discrimination and hardships if they are seen to be lacking in work delivery or are bogged down with personal issues, the survey busts all myths. It shows that both genders get similar treatment, if they falter and harms career prospects of both men and women alike.

So, what are these behaviors?

Being unable or unwilling to work beyond your normal working hours (39%); prioritizing family over work (32%); being unable or unwilling to socialize with colleagues outside of working hours (30%); having childcare responsibilities during working hours (29%); talking about family life (27%); having different interest and hobbies vis-à-vis colleagues (23%); working part time (22%) and working from home regularly (21%); and rejecting a colleague, who wanted to date (21%).

“It’s about teamwork and keeping it professional and going beyond the call of duty,” adds Adarkar.