Table 3.
Barriers to formal reporting of harassment identified in this study and mitigation strategies for institutional leadership
| Barrier to reporting harassment | Exemplar quotation | Suggested improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of clear infrastructure | “I just didn't know what to say. Yeah, and I just didn't even know who to say it to” (P04) “I think there should be a clear-cut area with defined boundaries that can act on time. And I don't think that that exists. Does it?” (P07) |
A clear, well-advertised process for reporting that addresses the spectrum of harassment and discrimination |
| Lack of leadership support | “Yeah, we beat ourselves up about it. We go to the director, they don't take it seriously. And then you're beating yourself more, like am I just this hysterical lady…? You demean yourself [reporting] it, too. And I don't want to demean myself . . . the victim [is] in a place of shame, feeling like they have no control.” (P06) | Formal training for how to accept and investigate a report of harassment or discrimination for leaders |
| Perceived outcome of reporting | “So, when I tried to address it, I went to the director and so had these conversations, and she was very supportive. And then I talked to other [specialists] and they were like, ‘Yeah, we had the same issues with this one individual, same issues. He's not a good person,’ . . . but similar things have been brought up and something needs to change. Something needs to happen.” (P06) | Systems-level pre-defined responses/consequences to a spectrum of unprofessional behaviours, including remediation or termination |
| Fears or experiences of retaliation | “[After reporting a colleague who verbally harassed her] people would come to me, behind his back, and say, ‘Yeah, I agree with you . . . he’s an asshole,’ . . . but later I find out that I was canceled [from a procedure schedule that he was in charge of] . . . and none of my other male colleagues would even stand up for me” (P08) | Retaliation policies that outline strict consequences for violations Remove individuals who harass others from leadership and decision-making positions |