Illustration of a person teleworking. - BARBARA GINDL / APA

Even from a distance, and even in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, it dies hard. Facts of sexism have been suffered by large numbers of British women even though they were teleworking because of the epidemic, according to a study published Thursday by the law firm Slater and Gordon, which interviewed 2,000 men and women.

Slater and Gordon UK's employment team carried out a survey which found 27% of UK women have been asked by bosses to dress "sexier" or "more provocatively" for video calls. https://t.co/LYIFxIukJk#workingfromhome #workplaceharassment #sexism

- Slater and Gordon UK (@SlaterGordonUK) July 23, 2020

If one could hope that teleworking would limit the risks of inappropriate behavior, this is not the case according to this study, which believes that sexism has found new, more insidious ways to thrive online. Thus, more than a third of the women questioned (35%) have witnessed at least once, since the start of confinement in the United Kingdom at the end of March, a request of a sexist nature from a superior.

One in three women have been asked by a manager to wear more makeup or do more hair, while one in four has been asked to dress "sexier or more provocatively". Also according to the study, the managers justified these requests to win new contracts or to please the team and customers, during videoconference meetings.

The fear of being blacklisted

For fear of the negative consequences on their careers, most of the women targeted by these requests did not speak to HR about it, and a quarter finally gave in and changed their appearance.

“It is extremely disappointing that we still have these types of conversations, especially at a time when women are juggling multiple tasks around the home and may also be responsible for childcare. This type of archaic behavior should not exist in a modern working world, ”notably criticizes Danielle Parsons, lawyer at Slater and Gordon.

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  • Telework
  • gender equality
  • Sexism
  • Coronavirus
  • World
  • United Kingdom