Businesswomen in Norfolk speak about their experiences with workplace sexual harassment - have your say

Michelle Raper, a director at Rostrons accountants in Norwich, launches the Norfolk-wide We Can mentoring scheme for young business women at a Norfolk Network event. Picture: Bethany Whymark. (Image: Archant)

Awareness and condemnation of sexual harassment at work – whatever your profession – is on the rise.

The US and UK film industries have been left reeling after scores of women revealed they had been harassed by decorated producer Harvey Weinstein.

Scandals within the BBC, most notably that involving Jimmy Savile, have also brought the issue – or ignorance of it – to the fore.

This week Norfolk County Council's top officer, Dr Wendy Thompson, intervened in the debate to say 'any form of exploitation from a position of power is absolutely unacceptable'.

Tricia Fuller, group HR director at Norse. Picture: Norse Group. (Image: Norfolk ProHelp)

Have you had experiences with sexual harassment in the workplace? Share your story anonymously – email bethany.whymark@archant.co.uk

Tricia Fuller, group HR director at Norse, said she had experienced such behaviour early on in her career while working in retail.

'It was quite acceptable, even normal, for the store manager to say inappropriate things to you,' she said.

'It was a time when men said things to you that they would not dream of saying now.'

Following the Hollywood revelations she believes a 'long over-due' shift in attitudes is imminent.

'It will be a lightning bolt for individuals who do this and want to change their own behaviour,' she said.

'If someone as high profile as him [Weinstein] can be brought down having done it for such a long time, it may cause individuals to think about what they say.'

According to Ms Fuller Norse Group has 'robust' and non-gender-specific policies and procedures to deal with harassment and bullying, including support from a mentor 'outside the line management relationship', within which such problems often arise.

She added: 'It is important to make sure women have the language to say, please don't speak to me like that, particularly for junior women – sometimes that it all it takes.'

Michelle Raper is a director at Rostrons accountant in Norwich and a leader of the We Can mentoring scheme for young businesswomen.

She said: 'As an all-female-owned business I would like to think we do not have any issues, but this behaviour is not just male to female. Men can be sexually harassed by women and it is important that we acknowledge that and protect them equally.

'In the early years of my career in the late 1980s, it was not unusual for a boss to be sexually suggestive to a young female employee. I am not saying it was right, but at the time it was just something that happened.

'I am very glad that on a day-to-day basis we do not see that any more.'

Have you had experiences with sexual harassment in the workplace? You can share your story anonymously – email bethany.whymark@archant.co.uk or call 01603 772468.