Disincentives to Reporting Sexual Harassment in Government Agencies: A Large-Scale Survey.

This article examines factors that discourage U.S. federal government employees from formally reporting sexual harassment, focusing on the roles of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), non-disclosure policies (NDPs), and perceived seriousness of threats (PST). Using data from the 2021 Merit Principles Survey and applying social identity theory, the study finds that while NDAs and NDPs do not significantly reduce employees' intentions to report harassment, higher perceived threats of retaliation or harm substantially decrease the likelihood of formal complaints. These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychological and social barriers, particularly fears of retaliation, to foster a complaint culture that supports transparency and accountability in public sector workplaces. The research offers empirical insights to inform policy and organizational practices aimed at protecting employees and encouraging reporting of misconduct within government agencies.