Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Why True Leaders Must Take Responsibility Every Day

Sexual harassment in the workplace doesn’t just harm one person. It obliterates clarity, confidence, credibility—and the very life force of an organization. The ripple effect of trauma depletes everyone’s energy.

Bottom line: it always lands back at the top.

Even after the #MeToo headlines fade, harassment continues in the shadows. Hollywood celebrates complicity. Social media exposes it. But exposure alone doesn’t equal change.

What the Numbers Reveal

Sexual harassment is not limited to women. Men experience it too.

• Globally, nearly one in three women have faced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

• In workplaces, 38% of women and 14% of men report sexual harassment. Most cases go unreported.

• Almost 40% of victims leave their jobs because of it.
  (Source: NSVRC, EIGE)

These aren’t abstract stats. These are real people—your colleagues, your team members, your family.

A Hollywood-Style Cautionary Moment

Recently, during a Coldplay concert, a CEO and Head of HR of a billion-dollar tech firm were caught on the kiss cam. Jumbotron lit. Cameras rolling.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment kiss—it was the public unmasking of a toxic, complicit culture that had existed long before the cameras rolled.

The fallout is chaotic and deep:

• Board launched a formal investigation.

• CEO on leave.

• Internal trauma skyrocketing.

• Social media seething—light exposing the cockroaches scuttling away.

This scenario also reveals a common, hidden reality: predators in positions of power and their victims often endure blackmail, coercion, and long-term trauma. When leadership condones or ignores it, harm spreads silently, eroding trust, performance, and morale.

This isn’t a comedy clip. It’s a trauma trigger. It’s the cost of unchecked culture—personally, professionally, across the home and office walls.

We Are Long Past Talking About It

We are long past the point of just talking about it. The moment passed. Now we wake up to the cultural collapse that still endures in every HR policy, every wink-wink leadership instance.

This isn’t preachy. This is leadership from the inside out—powered by integrity, moral clarity, and daily action.

Every leader sets the tone. Every action, every tolerance of misconduct, every wink-wink comment models culture. True leaders must model behavior they expect. Anything less is complicity.

5 Non-Negotiables for Leaders Who Refuse to Tolerate Harassment

1. Lead From the Top Down

If people feel unsafe speaking up—or second-guess what’s appropriate—you already have a culture problem. Leadership is about creating safety, not tolerating chaos.

2. Take Radical Ownership: Say “NO”

Inappropriate words, gestures, or advances? Stop them immediately. The most powerful word in leadership: No. Not “let’s discuss,” not “context matters”—No.

3. Acknowledge and Repair the Damage

Harassment leaves lasting scars. You’ll need more than apologies—sincere restitution, trust rebuilding, and consistent action are required.

4. Live the Standard — Don’t Just Publish It

Policies are worthless if your actions don’t align. Culture is shaped moment-to-moment, not by printed codes of conduct tucked in a drawer.

5. Bring in Expert Support

A trauma-informed, holistic leadership coach helps prevent harm, repair damage, and equip your team to heal and rebuild. This isn’t an area to “wing it.”

Your Legacy Is Being Written Every Day

We don’t need more statements. We need leaders who act from integrity—strong inside, owning their emotions, thoughts, and actions, and choosing what’s right.

Ask yourself: Do you want to be remembered as a skunk in the C-suite, tolerating chaos and fear? Or as a powerhouse leader, who created a safe, thriving, resilient workplace — and left a legacy worth following?

If that’s you—or you’re building toward it—I challenge you to step up. Your people, your culture, your legacy depend on it.

If you’re committed to leading stronger, longer, and making a positive impact that lasts, book your complimentary Leadership Solution Call today: leadstrongerlonger.com

Because your organization isn’t just work—it’s where your values show up. And they deserve a leader who leads strong, with some morale backbone and leads by example.

Stephana Johnson, CHHP, NMT, CES speaks, writes, and consults on holistic leadership, workplace culture, and sustainable high performance. She helps executives and organizations lead stronger, longer — without sacrificing integrity, health, or results. Learn more at StephanaJohnson.com.