One in three workers in France say they have been a victim of workplace harassment at some point, according to new research highlighted on 6 October 2026 by the French trade publication actuEL-HSE. It is the second edition of the Baromètre Qualisocial, conducted by research firm Ipsos BVA on behalf of Qualisocial and AvoSial, a French association of employment lawyers. The share of victims is unchanged from the first survey four years earlier: despite greater attention to the issue, no decline is visible.
What the Study Found
For the Baromètre Qualisocial, two thousand workers were surveyed online in a nationally representative sample of people employed at private or public organisations with at least five staff. Of these, 33 percent say they have faced workplace harassment themselves, and 40 percent say they have witnessed it. A notable age gap emerges around digital harassment: 53 percent of workers aged 18 to 24 report online harassment at work, compared with 19 percent of those over 45. In addition, 50 percent say they feel well informed about harassment legislation, up from 35 percent four years ago. Yet only 54 percent correctly identified a case of sexual harassment presented in the survey, and half of respondents fear that reporting an incident could harm their career.
Why the Problem Persists
According to the study, this fear of consequences is stronger among women and younger workers. A French occupational psychologist quoted in the research also points to changing ways of working: there is less room for collective support and mutual solidarity on the shop floor. The barometer’s recommendations are practical in nature. Training for employees, managers and designated confidants should be supplemented with modules based on concrete real-world cases. Organisations must put in place an impartial investigation procedure as soon as a complaint is filed. And reporting channels and confidants must be clearly identifiable, their role regularly brought to attention, and their use measured.
Context
This is not an issue confined to France. In 2019, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted Convention 190, which recognises everyone’s right to a working environment free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. The convention entered into force in 2021. Countries that ratify it commit themselves, among other things, to prevention policies, accessible complaint and dispute-resolution procedures, and protection of whistleblowers, witnesses and victims against retaliation.
What This Means Globally
Although the figures are French, the findings touch on questions that employers in every country face: do workers know what counts as harassment, and do they dare report it without fearing for their career? The combination of greater awareness of the rules and an unchanged share of victims suggests that legislation and information alone are not enough. For organisations worldwide, the research underlines the importance of reporting structures that are safe in practice, not just on paper.
Source: Harcèlement au travail : un salarié sur trois dit en avoir été victime, 6 October 2026
Additional research: L’Info Durable, on the Baromètre Qualisocial, ILO Convention 190 (Violence and Harassment Convention)
