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Bowen, P, Edwards, P, Lingard, H and Cattell, K (2011) Workplace harassment and discrimination for South African construction professionals. In: Egbu, C and Lou, E C W (Eds.), Proceedings 27th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2011, Bristol, UK. Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 187–96.

  • Type: Conference Proceedings
  • Keywords: discrimination; harassment; job stress; South Africa
  • ISBN/ISSN: 978-0-9552390-5-2
  • URL: http://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/ar2011-0187-0196_Bowen_Edwards_Lingard_Cattell.pdf
  • Abstract:
    Workplace harassment and discrimination negatively affect the wellbeing of workers. An opinion survey of professionals working in the South African construction industry was carried out to explore their experiences of harassment and discrimination, and to determine whether or not gender and ethnicity play a significant part in unacceptable workplace behaviours perpetrated by line managers and colleagues. Data from 676 professional architects, civil engineers, quantity surveyors and project and construction managers were collected. While the overall levels of harassment and discrimination were not found to be high, the negative experiences of women and professionals in ethnic groups other than white were significantly more frequent than those reported by White males. The findings suggest that professional firms in the construction industry, assisted by professional associations, should take a more active stance in adopting policies against harassment and discrimination, and in implementing procedures to discourage and penalise such behaviours.