Planning for a Holiday in Mexico – Safety Tips for RV Owners

RVing is becoming a popular way to travel across all the states in the U.S. A successful RV trip doesn’t just happen out of the blue. It takes proper preparation and planning to ensure that you have checked everything and that your vehicle is in good condition.

Whether you are planning for a holiday in Mexico with RV or not, this article will give you tips that will make your RV trip successful. Here are some safety tips you should adhere to when planning a trip to Mexico.

Learn how to drive the RV

If you are planning to hire an RV, you must learn how to use it before the actual day of the trip. Do not assume that you can comfortably drive an RV just because you have been driving your car. Try several types of these vehicles and learn how to respond to emergencies that may happen on the highways. Driving most of these vehicles has more in common, like driving a commercial truck, than you may think.

Learn to keep the RV on the lanes, accelerate, using mirrors and braking. And ensure that you do a lot of practice so that you can be able to pack your RV safely at the camping site. In case you get involved in a collision, accident lawyers from USAttorneys.com have the right professional qualifications and experience to represent you in court.

Road service and RV insurance

Before the trip, ensure that the insurance cover you have taken covers every aspect of the RV trip. Research the road services specializing in RVs and know exactly what they offer for these vehicles. There are only a few service companies that will toll the trailer, and you shouldn’t risk leaving all your possessions in a trailer on the roadside.

Does the insurance cover the truck’s towing, or will they just leave it behind? You should also research whether you need separate RV insurance or road service coverage. Experienced truck accident lawyers can help you estimate the amount that you should be compensated by the insurance companies in case of an accident.

Confirm reservations

Before embarking on your trip to Mexico, you need to confirm your reservation. Is it just within a couple of hours of your stop? How do they operate, and are there rooms to accommodate you and your family? Getting stuck outside the campsite is disappointing unless the reservation site has a 24/7 check-in process.

To do this, you need to research the various reservations that are in Mexico and that are easily accessible by main roads. Talk with the reservation authorities to confirm whether there is space left to book it before you travel. If you don’t, you may end up stranded outside the office. Accident attorneys can help you fight for your claim if you get involved in a collision before getting to the destination.

Check road conditions, construction and closures

When planning for the RV trip to Mexico, check road conditions, construction and closures. When roads are closed due to construction, you will be forced to look for an alternative route, which will eat into your savings. Climatic conditions like snow on the road make driving challenging for most RV drivers.

So, if you are not ready to take the challenge, postpone your trip to another day, as this will help you avoid spending extra cash. This will save you time and frustration by checking several websites that report road conditions. If the road conditions are clear, then you can be sure that nothing will happen during the trip.

How Organizing Your Work Better Will Get You More Clients

Every task has time to be performed. That’s what you should understand if at all you value being organized in your normal business days. Being organized takes time. You have to learn what works for you and what doesn’t. There are tasks that should be prioritized over others.

Most of the clients will agree that they value being associated with organized companies. This ensures that the customers get what they want from the company within the shortest time possible. Here are various ways how organizing your work will get you more clients.

It improves customer service

If you are organized, you will know the best tools to put in place and ensure they are working to improve customer service. By the time you are opening the business, you will have checked every tool to ensure that it’s in good condition. Great customer service leads to more clients as most of them tend to work with companies that value them.

Ensure that your time and billing software for accounting professionals is working effectively before starting the day. This is the best way to avoid frustrations with invoicing, expense tracking, and making payments. According to Mango Practice Management, time and billing software will help offer quality services and eliminate the frustrations when offering accounting services.  

Being organized saves time

It’s challenging to predict how much time you will take to serve every client. There are some clients who come to pick only what they want, but there are others who come to ask more questions about your goods and services. Organizing your work saves you a lot of time. Here, you know the maximum amount of time you should take for each task.

This will ensure that you won’t spend many hours doing unnecessary things or tasks that add little value to the business. Being organized saves you time and ensures that clients are served as fast as possible. Customers value their time. That’s why they will keep coming back and referring their friends to your business.

It helps you stay safe

Most security breaches happen due to a lack of being organized with work. Hackers are always trying every possible thing to access your organization’s system. Being organized with work entails keeping the employees’ documents in the right place and out of reach of unauthorized access. It will also ensure that you take time to check the software of the data systems and whether they are up to date.

This way, you will make it hard for any intruder to access data belonging to the clients. Customers value the security of their details too much. That’s the only way they will feel safer when sharing information with your business. As a result, you will be able to retain more clients, which means you will make more profits than your competitors.

It establishes a sense of professionalism

Professional people conduct themselves decently. This demonstrates confidence and competence, which are major factors every client looks out for. No one wants to deal with incompetent business partners. And the easiest way to show that you are competent with the services you are offering is how you organize the workplace.

This gives the customers a sense that you know what you are doing and you are the right person to help them solve their issues. As a result, you will get more customers as the existing ones will refer their friends to your business. So, make sure that every tool is put in the right place. Get enough staff to direct the clients to the right offices instead of having a few to do all these tasks.

Why Remote Workers Do Not Want to Return to Offices

The number of remote workers who do not want to return to offices is increasing. A few decades ago, most employees used to like working from their offices as they thought it was the most convenient way.

But over time, things have changed. Workers have realized that remote working has a lot of benefits that overrule the traditional office style. Employees value their commute-free days and want as much flexibility as possible. Here are reasons why remote workers do not want to return to offices.

Working remotely is just efficient

Remote work means working from anywhere else other than the office. This can be your home, café, or just a coworking space. Employees are evaluated by their output. That’s regardless of where they are working from. So, if the employee is working remotely, they are still expected to do the same amount of work.

As the company owner, you can easily monitor what the workers are doing on their computers or whether they have arrived at their working stations on time. Greetly’s visitor sign in software application will send you an alert notification when the employees arrive at the station. All the information about the remote employees is securely stored in a cloud-based logbook.

Change of perspective

It’s often hard to predict how something can be great if you have never tried it. Over the years, remote working has been there, but most companies have not implemented it entirely. Due to the advancing technology, better monitoring systems and other applications to support remote working were created and are still being created.

Those who have worked remotely no longer want to return to their offices. Most of them have started to realize how plausible the idea of remote working is. As a result, they feel like the daily commute is old-fashioned and even unnecessary. 

They are burnt out

Since remote working gained popularity, workers have realized that what looks like productivity could be burnout in disguise. The same amount of work can be done even better at home. Commuting to work and socializing with people now feels unnecessary and taxing.

Burnout can take many forms. There is too much pressure with the traditional working style from work and colleagues. Remote employees have now increased flexibility to beat burnout after work. The time initially used for commuting can now be spent on other issues related to career growth.

The need for the side hustle

With the traditional working style, most employees are expected to get to work on time. That means that they have to wake up very early in the morning, attend to their house chores and then prepare to travel to job. Due to the rising cost of living, employees are trying everything possible to multitask to fuel their expenses.

That’s why most of them have taken up side hustles. Remote working makes side hustles possible. Workers can utilize the time initially used for preparation and traveling to do something else for income. Most of them are unwilling to give up on their side hustle and return to their normal offices.

Communication is effective

In the traditional office, employees show up to meetings and sit around tables to share their idea. Of course, this is one of the best ways to share business ideas with the rest of the team members. But online meetings have proven to be just as effective as physical meetings.

When minor issues like audio, microphone, and background rules are addressed, everything runs effectively, just like an ordinary meeting. You don’t have to rush to the office in case of any communication. You can receive it via email or any other platform for communication.

Ensuring Your Delivery Workforce Safety During a High-Demand Season

Employers should effectively manage the safety of their delivery workers to ensure sustainable productivity. They should provide strong leadership by involving every worker, from managers to the delivery staff. 

When an employer ensures their workers’ safety, they record a few absences, which helps improve efficiency. When delivery workers are aware that their employer is concerned about their safety, they tend to be more productive. In a time of high demand, delivery worker safety should remain a priority. 

Personal safety is a priority

If you are injured or involved in an accident while on delivery, contact Madalon Law attorneys. The Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys will represent you if you get a car, motorcycle, bicycle, or truck accident. They also represent individuals involved in slip and fall and wrongful death accidents. 

One of the ways to promote delivery staff safety is to help them to be aware of their safety. The employer should insist to the employees that their safety should always be a priority. That means the delivery staff should develop consciousness for their safety whether they are on the road, in the warehouse, or dropping off delivery to a customer. 

Personal safety is all about ensuring they are careful on the road. The driver must avoid speeding or making sudden maneuvers. They must not drive under the influence or be aggressive on the road. While lifting heavy loads, they should be mindful of their safety to avoid injuring their back. 

While at the warehouse, the delivery worker should be conscious of their safety and not put other workers in danger. Issues of carjacking and robbery may happen during delivery. To ensure their personal safety, the delivery worker should remain calm and cooperate with the criminal. When it is safe, they should call 911 or the police. Sometimes wearing regular clothes instead of a uniform can help delivery workers not to get easily noticed. 

Managing driver fatigue issues

Driver fatigue can lead to compromised delivery worker safety. When a driver is fatigued, they are more likely to be involved in a crash. Their vision and judgment on the road could be affected. The driver may doze off while on the road due to fatigue. 

To ensure driver safety, the employer should take several preventive measures. The driver will certainly get tired during the high demand season because they will make more trips than usual. They should educate the drivers to get a minimum of seven hours of sleep at night or after their shifts. 

The drivers should be aware of the fatigue signs to watch out for. Signs like dizziness, yawing, and drowsiness indicate the driver is fatigued. Their reaction time reduces and can easily cause an accident. If a driver causes an accident due to fatigue, they should call Fort Lauderdale Accident Lawyers and seek legal advice. 

Providing proper delivery vehicles maintenance

Delivery vehicles make multiple trips in the high season. When their service time comes, the employer may prefer for the drivers to keep making more trips to avoid backlogs. While this action will increase the number of happy customers, it will increase the risk to the delivery staff. 

The vehicles will have worn-out brake shoes, unaligned wheels, loose steering, and overused oil. The vehicle is at a higher risk of crashing into other vehicles due to failed breaks. If this happens, the delivery staff should contact Attorneys Near Me for legal advice. The vehicles are likely to break down often and cause delays in delivery time.

Employers should not wait until a terrible incident happens to their delivery staff to repair or provide vehicle maintenance. There should be an extra vehicle for use as the other one undergoes maintenance. This arrangement will help reduce accidents significantly. 

How Online Education is Leading to Mental Health Issues in College Students

Online education opens up new opportunities for both colleges and students. Colleges can have a wider reach with lower costs, and students access education easily at a discounted price. 

Students can also structure their learning patterns to fit their personal preferences. Unfortunately, online education in college has proven to be both a blessing and a curse. Some inherent mental health issues are caused by online education among college students. What are some of those issues?

Effects of social isolation

College sparks fond memories when pondered over by graduates. They think of all the friends and people they have met during that phase of their life. Some might have stories about how their friends saved them academically or showed support in times of need. Unfortunately, online education does not afford students this opportunity. 

The social isolation students experience when studying online is a major mental health issue. To deal with this issue and other mental health problems triggered by online education, find a therapist on Zencare.co. This therapist listing site has the best local therapists that can help you get through online education in one piece emotionally and mentally.

“Zoom fatigue” leads to stress

The boom of videoconferencing tools that colleges have adopted has led to a variety of buzzwords that were new to people. For example, the term Zoom fatigue was coined recently and has been described as the effect of being on videoconferencing for prolonged periods. 

Zoom fatigue is mental tiredness that results in a lack of concentration on the curriculum being taught. This mental health trigger affects both students and lecturers. However, the effects of Zoom fatigue are more evident among students. The results of this mental health trigger include stress and anxiety. Due to poor academic performance, some students might also develop depression and other mental health issues.

Online education promotes a sedentary lifestyle

In college, students enjoy different physical activities like sports or track athletics. Alternatively, students can utilize gym facilities to pursue an active lifestyle. Online education robs of students this privilege and indirectly promotes a sedentary lifestyle. Since students do everything on their screens, they might not feel motivated to get out there and be active. 

Instead, they might live a sedentary lifestyle leading to depression and anxiety. Students might focus on indoor activities such as watching TV and sleeping. As a result, they can fall into a bad routine. In addition to the mental health disadvantages of a sedentary lifestyle, this routine could lead to physical conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

Prolonged screen time

Students spend a lot of time in front of their screens. They interact with friends on social media, play video games and watch movies on laptops and mobile devices. In addition to these non-essential activities, spending a full day in front of a screen studying frustrates students. They might start being aloof during class and begin performing poorly academically. 

In traditional colleges, students can substitute screen time with textbooks and in-person lectures. With online education, minimizing screen time is impossible, and that could cause mental health issues. These mental health issues could be exacerbated if the student spends all night studying.

Procrastination with online learning

Although online learning provides some flexibility to college students, it also leads to procrastination. College students procrastinate on school work and assignments until the very last minute. This unhealthy routine leads to sleepless nights in pursuit of meeting an assignment’s deadline. 

Studying for exams is also delayed to the very last minute, which leads to sleepless nights. All of this takes a toll on mental health. Students might find it hard to concentrate on the following day in class and feel under pressure. These are leading causes of anxiety and even depression amongst college students.

Planning the Perfect Weekend Getaway for Your Small Team

Taking your team on an outing helps build understanding between the team members. Your team gets to relax in a non-office background, getting to know each other better. New friendships are created, old enmities are wiped out quickly in a new environment as people mingle better without official tension. 

Mountain areas 

Small teams can visit mountain areas that are pleasant and cool for a refreshing weekend. Most mountain resorts have facilities for hiking on the nearby land, visiting a waterfall, or taking a stroll amidst the greenery. The Mountain breeze, fresh air, and beautiful scenery are excellent mood-lifters for anyone. 

Visit Smoky Mountain vacation rentals in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which are perfect for small team outings. Their resort homes can easily house up to eight people. They come loaded with amenities like a kitchen, porch, and a breathtaking view of the valley. Team members can go hiking, and shopping lovers can stroll around the town visiting local shops.

Beach resorts 

Small teams can visit a beach resort nearby to have a fun weekend outing with their office colleagues. Beaches are always loaded with numerous activities to kill time, relax and enjoy the cool sea breeze. The beautiful sunset and the sunrise alone are enough to make a person feel one with nature and forget all their tensions. 

A fun beach volleyball game, some surfing, and boating into the deep ocean with good seafood will help the team members blend better. Top performers or game winners can get a spa treatment from the resort and make the losers do some funny chores. Beach holidays are great places to go shopping and buy some local goodies on a low budget. 

Quiet town homestays

Teams with less than ten members can visit quiet southern towns, Indian settlements, or some historical places where roleplays get conducted. It will be a much-expected change from the typical resort stay, and the team members will have fun trying to adapt. Many resorts in quiet towns arrange for homestays, allowing people to learn more about local culture. 

Utilize the service of one such service and stay with the locals instead of a usual hotel stay to enjoy a different lifestyle. Team members will often like doing such unique things and try to help each other cope with the strangers. 

Talking and free time 

Wherever you take your team, give enough time to get some extra sleep and talk with each other. Don’t load the day with activities and give more time for your group to chat leisurely around the campfire or in the local diner or bar. Do not rush them to visit the next location or force unwilling members to participate in a game. 

Assign them other jobs like being a referee or taking photographs when others play. You will notice team players who come forward ready to help others in such outings. Many workers report an improved rapport with their colleagues after a tour in almost all companies. 

Interesting games

Arrange for a treasure hunt or some adventure game where the team members must find a clue and work with others to unlock something. If the holiday place you are booking has an escape cabin or mystery room, book them and let the team members enjoy them. Visit museums about a movie (Titanic museum) or visit movie studios where they shot the favorite film of most members. 

Such activities will linger long in the mind of the team members and give them something to laugh about for a long time. The escape room’s fun photographs and treasure hunt mess-ups will remain in the office history forever, creating lasting memories.

Suing for a Dog Bite – Here’s What You Must Know

You might be surprised to know that there are over four billion dog bites in the U.S. every year, almost a thousand of which require medical treatment. If you’re the victim of a dog bite, you may be wondering about how a dog bite lawsuit works. Here are some important facts you need to know.

Different states have different liability laws

Different states in the U.S. have different rules regarding liability in dog bite cases. Some states have a “one bite” rule. To be held liable, the owner must have reason to know that the dog would bite, such as if the dog had bitten someone in the past. 

In Florida, owners can be held liable for first incidences of dog bites even if they didn’t have any prior knowledge that their dogs would bite. An injured person also doesn’t have to prove that a dog owner exercised a lack of reasonable care. 

Finding “attorneys near me” is easy on the USAttorneys.com website, where you can search for experienced personal injury lawyers who know the liability laws in different states. 

Reasons why a dog owner may not be held liable for a dog bite

Some common reasons why a dog owner may not be held liable for a dog bite include:

Trespassing: The dog owner may not be held liable if you were trespassing in the place where you received the dog bite. 

Provocation: If a lawyer can prove that you were teasing the dog, being aggressive, or provoking it in any way, there’s a good chance you won’t win your case.

Contributory negligence: A dog owner may argue that you were partially to blame. For example, the owner may have warned you not to approach the dog, but you did so anyway. 

Your attorney will be able to tell you whether you have a legal basis for a claim and whether you have the potential to win and receive monetary compensation. 

Lawsuits require time, effort and financial commitment. If you are bitten by a dog, and it is only a small bite that’s easily treated, it doesn’t really warrant a lawsuit. 

Homeowner’s insurance may cover a dog bite

If you have homeowner’s insurance, it may cover the costs of a dog bite that occurs on your property. This can lead to a settlement without having to go to court. 

Whether you want to file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy or against the dog owner directly, you will want to work with a qualified attorney. If the insurance company or dog owner proposes settling with you, your attorney can negotiate on your behalf. 

This means you won’t end up accepting a settlement that’s too low. Serious dog bites can cause long-term problems that result in high medical bills and may even cause disability. If you settle without consulting an attorney and end up having further problems down the line, you have no recourse. 

Statute of limitations

Many states have a “statute of limitations,” and you have to bring a lawsuit within a specific time period. In Florida, you have to bring a lawsuit within four years from the time the incident occurred. This may seem like a long period, but it is never a good idea to delay if you want to bring a lawsuit. 

The earlier you consult with an attorney, the easier it will be to collect evidence for your case. Most attorneys offer free consultations so you can discuss your case and see whether you have the grounds to file a dog attack lawsuit.

Why Are Remote Workers Not Keen to Return to Offices?

Remote work has reshaped many aspects of employees’ life, and returning to work is no exception. Most of the workers who voluntarily quit their jobs are no longer looking for new jobs as they used to be in the past. There are many reasons why remote workers are not keen to return to offices.

Some are rethinking their careers, while others are concerned about the flexibility of the working conditions. Here are some reasons why employees are reluctant to return to offices.

Bad bosses

Who likes being shouted at or closed and strict supervision while working? Absolutely, none of the employees like these kinds of acts. Unfortunately, many bosses have little talent for leadership. There are some who are trying their level best, but others are maximizing every opportunity to get maximum profit. It’s one of the reasons why most of the employees are not keen to return to offices.

As the company’s boss, you should enforce policies that favor the employees. Give them ample space to carry out their activities with peace of mind. You can partner with CaterCow to launch an office lunch program for the employees. It’s one of the best online catering marketplaces featuring vetted menus designed for large and small groups of employees.

Less autonomy

Every employee enjoys working without a rigid set of rules that they are supposed to follow. Some firms micromanage their employees, leaving them with less freedom to express their creativity and curiosity. In this case, they want to decide how and when the work should be done, which is nearly impossible with many companies.

As a result, they are left with no option but to refocus their career. Employees no longer wish to be controlled on whatever target they should hit or not, which is why most of them are unwilling to return to the offices.

Lack of trust

A good number of employees feel that their bosses no longer trust them. And that’s why they are being called back to the offices. That’s if the bosses don’t see what they are doing or where they are, they assume they are not working on their tasks. 

The pressure by bosses to call employees back to work raises many questions amongst the employees. The best thing here would be to give clear and relevant tasks to the employees. You can also ensure flexibility, and the employees can complete some of the tasks from their comfort zones.

Toxic environment

If you ask any employee whether those at the top are doing great things for the company, the answer would be no. There is a great difference between individual performance and success in most companies. The junior employees feel like they are doing most of the work in the industry. And that’s where toxic politics sets in.

No one wants to work a lot and get paid little while bosses are in their offices and getting huge salaries. It’s a subject that needs deep discussion. Why would the most qualified personnel in the company be seated in the offices? Toxic politics won’t go away not unless managers get involved in the production process. 

Rethinking about careers

With the rise of technology, most employees are rethinking their career life. Unlike in the past, unemployed people are becoming more creative with technology and inventing new jobs. They are employing so many graduates in their companies. Those employed are now taking advantage of their knowledge to create more opportunities.

Most of them no longer want to return to their jobs if they can do something else better and earn a good amount of money. With the consistent finding of alternative means of survival, most have invented different ways to pivot their careers.

Helping Your Immigrant Colleague in the Workplace

Being an immigrant in the workplace can be challenging not only due to government regulations and work permit issues but also due to uncertainties about immigration status as policies keep changing. Add to this adjusting to all the cultural differences and it’s a time when supporting an immigrant colleague in the workplace can be very meaningful.

Find out more about their immigration journey

Don’t ask immigrant colleagues about their work permits, as this can be an uncomfortable trigger for them. Create a safe space instead that gives them the opportunity to open up if they feel comfortable doing so. Learn more about the process immigrants have to go through to obtain visas, work permits, and green cards.

Experienced immigration lawyers from USAttorneys.com can help immigrants needing assistance to transition to the U.S. They will help them to fill in immigration papers and deal with the whole process of getting visas which can be intimidating, especially for those who don’t speak English well.

Create a workplace that’s inclusive of the immigrant experience

Validate the experience of immigrants and do what you can to make them feel included. You can ask them questions like “Do you have any suggestions about how the company can communicate any changes to immigration policies?” or “Do you know who to approach if you have a problem in the workplace?”

Change the way you promote any events to include them. If a colleague successfully secures a work permit, green card or citizenship, it is a reason to celebrate (with their permission, of course!).

Establish trust so they can be more transparent

Immigrants struggle to speak out for fear of retaliation which could impact their work status and ability to stay in the country. The thought of having to go back to their country of origin may be a scary one. It will help if you can establish trust with immigrant colleagues so they don’t fear speaking up and they can be honest and transparent.

Be mindful of the difficulties they face

Settling in a new country can be very challenging. Everything from the immigration process, where Abogados de Inmigración can help, to opening a bank account, getting a driver’s license, finding health care etc., can be intimidating, especially for non-English speakers.

In addition, they have to face different cultural norms. Ask your immigrant colleagues if they need help with any of the logistics and give them the opportunity to talk about their anxieties. Understand that immigration news in the media is often negative and this can affect the emotional and mental health of immigrants.

Value different languages and cultures in the workplace

Understand that your immigrant colleagues may communicate differently with you. Language barriers can make it harder to express opinions and it is easy for misunderstandings to occur. Take the time to make sure you understand what they are saying correctly.

Managers should take the time to learn work-related vocabulary in the language of immigrants. A different language can be a benefit in the workplace because the more languages employees speak, the more customers your company can communicate with. Training in the workplace can teach communication skills to both immigrants and other employees that help them to interact with colleagues or customers.

Share your knowledge openly and proactively 

Immigrants can have difficulty decoding unwritten rules and policies, as well as subtle cultural norms. They may feel vulnerable and desire to prove themselves professionally, which can inhibit them from asking for help or communicating their challenges.

You can act as a mentor and provide emotional and informational support. You can even help connect immigrants to the local professional and social community.

How Sexual Harassment is Rampant in Healthcare

The healthcare system is facing a second crisis. The Covid pandemic has demonstrated its infrastructure and personnel levels leave much to be desired. However, another problem lurks behind the scenes, one that not many people in the sector are willing to address. Sexual harassment is a growing problem of endemic proportions, leaving a stream of victims in its wake.

The healthcare industry seems to have created a haven for acts of sexual harassment, with perpetrators facing few, if any, consequences. Here is what you need to know about it.

Easy pickings

Many people are at their most vulnerable when they visit a healthcare professional or institution. Predators take advantage of this and perpetrate illegal acts against them, according to sexual harassment attorneys listed in the USAttorneys database. The healthcare system has become a safe place for these offenders to hide as they have easy access to victims and face no real repercussions.

Medical professionals are so well-respected and held in high esteem by society that people do not want to believe that they could be guilty of sexual harassment. After all, they study for many years and carry responsibility for their patients’ lives. How could someone so noble stoop to sexual harassment? The unfortunate reality is that it happens more often than most people think.

A system enabling sexual harassment

The healthcare system has three factors that make it fertile ground for sexual harassment: a strict hierarchal structure, male-dominated staffing, and a climate that tolerates inappropriate behavior. The hierarchy means that sexual harassment claims go through multiple layers of bureaucracy before being dealt with, and many cases get lost along the way.

An overwhelming majority of sexual harassment cases are perpetrated by males, part of a legacy of patriarchal societal structures. For years, medicine was a career field that few women pursued, being told that it was a ‘man’s job’ better left to men, the more capable sex.

While more and more women are becoming doctors, the men doing so continue to outnumber them. Weak sexual harassment policies and institutional structures covering predators make healthcare employees and patients vulnerable to sexual harassment.

Hidden figures

Experts predict that the number of unreported sexual harassment cases in the healthcare system greatly outnumbers those that victims dare to come forward with. Sexual harassment victims are afraid to come forward, knowing that bringing a case to a conclusion could be more traumatic than what happened. They must tell their story multiple times, often to a skeptical audience reluctant to act against esteemed healthcare professionals.

This lack of reporting and the number of cases dismissed without proper investigation make it impossible to provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of healthcare sexual harassment incidents.

The other side

While many healthcare professionals are sexual harassment perpetrators, some are victims. Female healthcare professionals are often preyed on by superiors, colleagues, and patients.

Many do not report these events, fearing it will ruin their professional reputation. People rely on their reputations to garner respect in the medical community, and reporting sexual harassment could make them appear weak.

Improved policies

Given heightened awareness about sexual harassment in the healthcare systems, institutions and organizations are using more robust policies to combat it. The MeToo movement highlighted a need for platforms where victims can report sexual harassment.

Better procedures mean those investigations are taken seriously and subjected to more scrutiny. The rate of successful outcomes where sexual harassers experience punitive measures increases and people feel freer to come forward and report incidents. This has put healthcare workers on notice that their bad behavior will not be tolerated, and they cannot hide behind their qualifications and reputations.