Entertainment Workers Say Little Has Changed In Workplace Culture Post-Me Too: Survey

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Though entertainment-industry workers are more aware of what constitutes workplace misconduct and how it should be reported, many still feel little confidence that powerful executives will be held accountable for harassment, according to the findings of a recent survey.

The Hollywood Commission's 2022-23 Entertainment Industry Survey report surveyed more than 5,000 industry workers to make its findings. Founded by Anita Hill, the Hollywood Commission aims to stop discrimination, harassment and abuse in entertainment.

While the Me Too movement and headlines about powerful entertainment figures facing harassment allegations have made workers more aware of workplace misconduct, respondents say they believe there has been little change in the industry's culture. A vast majority expressed a "lack of confidence that powerful harassers will face accountability."

"The dramatic upswing in awareness of the types of behavior that do not belong in the workplace is a key step forward," Hill said in a statement. "Shifts in attitudes and values of workers and leadership pave the way for institutional and systemic changes that will ultimately lead to eliminating workplace misconduct.

"Our focus is to root out the harmful conduct that workers reported in our survey by bridging gaps in existing industry systems that leave industry workplaces vulnerable to abusive and discriminatory behaviors," Hill said. "This is why everyone at the Hollywood Commission remains so dedicated to our cause. Early this new year, we will launch new programs that we believe will make an impact. We are hitting the ground running and look forward to engaging our partner organizations to support safe and productive workplaces for all industry workers."

According to the report, rates of sexually harassing behaviors, bias, discrimination and bullying are still mostly unchanged since the commission's first survey in 2019-20. The report also found that workers continue to fear retaliation, such as loss of advancement opportunities by being labeled "difficult to work with." That fear continued to act as a deterrent for many to actually report harassing behavior, the report found.

The report made several recommendations aimed at ensuring accountability and enhancing prevention of harassment.

The full report is available online.

City News Service contributed to this report.