Is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace on the Decline?

 Posted on February 11, 2026 in Sexual Harassment

While sexual harassment has been officially illegal since the 1980s, it has remained an issue in workplaces. In recent years, sexual harassment has led to worker strikes and outside reviews of companies. Everyone from celebrities to ordinary workers have become advocates against it. About 10 years ago, there was a surge of sexual harassment reform, started largely by the #MeToo movement.

Many companies have responded with updated policies. The question now is: Are things better in 2026? Have the statistics on workplace sexual harassment improved?

Even if the answer is "yes," that doesn’t mean it has stopped altogether. If you are currently experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, a DuPage County harassment attorney can help you understand your rights and legal options.

Have Sexual Harassment Reports Decreased?

There is evidence that reports of sexual harassment have dropped. Different sources give somewhat different pictures of the situation. The Clayman Institute for Gender Research says that reports in federal workplaces declined by more than 50 percent between 1987 and 2016. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported that in the two years after #MeToo kicked off, reporting increased.

These statistics only show cases that were formally reported, though. Research consistently shows that most people who experience sexual harassment never file formal complaints. Some estimates suggest that up to 75 percent of harassment victims never report what happened to them.

Did Anything Change After the #MeToo Movement?

The #MeToo movement brought workplace sexual harassment into the spotlight in ways it had never been before. What started as individuals sharing their stories turned into a nationwide conversation.

Many companies responded by updating their harassment policies, starting new training programs, and creating better reporting procedures. Some states, including Illinois, passed stronger laws to protect workers. The Illinois Workplace Transparency Act (820 ILCS 96/1-25), which was recently updated, prohibits employers from requiring employees to sign agreements waiving their right to report workplace harassment.

Large companies faced public pressure to take harassment seriously. Some fired high-profile executives accused of harassment. Others hired outside consultants to review their workplace cultures. Major corporations like Google, McDonald's, and others experienced walkouts by employees demanding better protections against harassment. Some, like Google, updated their policies to allow employees to sue for sexual harassment.

The increase in reports could mean that harassment is still happening at similar rates, but more people feel comfortable reporting it. It could also mean that awareness has made people more likely to recognize sexual harassment when it happens.

What Are the Biggest Remaining Problems With Workplace Sexual Harassment in Illinois?

Fear of retaliation

Many workers do not report sexual harassment because they still worry about losing their jobs, backlash from coworkers, or being demoted. Even though retaliation for reporting harassment is illegal under federal and Illinois law, it still happens. Workers who report sexual harassment may be kept from meetings, passed over for promotions, or deal with false accusations of poor performance.

Lack of accountability

Even when sexual harassment is reported, consequences are not applied consistently. While some employers take complaints seriously and conduct thorough investigations, others focus primarily on protecting the organization, sometimes shifting blame onto the victim.

Power imbalances

Sexual harassment frequently arises from workplace power imbalances. When the alleged harasser holds a supervisory, managerial, or executive position, employees may be deterred from reporting due to fear of retaliation or lack of meaningful recourse, particularly where employers prioritize protecting senior personnel over enforcing anti-harassment policies.

Inadequate training

Although many employers now provide sexual harassment training, the quality and effectiveness of such programs vary widely. Some training initiatives meaningfully influence workplace culture and compliance, while others are perfunctory, inadequately implemented, or not taken seriously by employees.

What Legal Protections Do Illinois Workers Have in 2026?

Illinois workers are protected from sexual harassment under both federal and state law. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits sexual harassment at the federal level, while the Illinois Human Rights Act provides broader protections against discriminatory and unfair treatment within the state. In addition to barring agreements that restrict an employee’s ability to report sexual harassment, Illinois law allows affected workers to recover damages when an employer violates these protections, including compensation for emotional distress, lost wages, and other harm resulting from unlawful harassment policies.

Call a Wheaton, IL Sexual Harassment Lawyer Today

While some progress has been made in the past few years, sexual harassment remains a serious workplace problem in 2026. If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you have legal options. A DuPageCounty  sexual harassment lawyer can help you understand them. At Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC, we know that sexual harassment is still a huge problem for many employees. Contact MKFM at 630-665-7300 today to schedule your free initial attorney meeting.