Sexual harassment at work and labour turnover via job positions: a qualitative study of service industry employees in Vietnam

Abstract

Sexual harassment at work creates hurdles for employees to contribute and become committed to organisations. Labour turnover arising from sexual harassment at work is dangerous for the long-term development of any service company since it leads to a loss of talent and an increase in costs. Although Vietnam’s workplace is relatively safe, sexual harassment is still a prevalent problem in employment, albeit hidden by cultural perspectives. This qualitative research is conducted to revisit the relationship between sexual harassment and labour turnover through the lens of job positions among Vietnamese service employees. This study uses focus groups to obtain feedback and insights into sexual harassment at the workplace and its implications on turnover intentions among service staff. The findings show that sexual harassment is still a prevalent issue that is under-researched and addressed in the Vietnamese service workplace. The research results provide different viewpoints and relevant recommendations for service companies in Vietnam to embed the company’s values and clarify the workplace behavioural expectations to strengthen employee protection and reduce labour turnover.