Sexual harassment and bullying at work is a “huge” subject that has been swept under the carpet, professional speaker, and trainer, Jan Fraser said yesterday.

Ms Fraser said women are more likely to speak up and share their experiences as high-profile allegations come to light, including complaints against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

She said: “With all of the Harvey Weinstein complaints going on, women are coming forward and saying, ‘I was mistreated’.

“But it took a mind-blowing incident to get this going. And these are famous people.

“So if these famous people have been set upon in these situations, how about the regular people, how about the working women of the world, that go to work and do a good job and we’re vulnerable?

“And unless we set those parameters and unless the business is cognisant, is aware, is understanding of those values, there could be abuse going on.”

Ms Fraser added: “I think this is a huge subject and I think probably the news gives it a higher profile so people will listen more and key into it more.

“But I think it’s something that has been under the rug for a while.”

Ms Fraser was the keynote speaker at a seminar on sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace held at the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club.

She gave an overview of what constitutes sexual harassment and bullying, how they are connected, how they can be dealt with and also shared personal experiences.

Ms Fraser revealed an incident that happened when she took a much needed job at an orthodontists in the 1970s.

The doctor arranged a cabin trip for his employees.

Ms Fraser was to stay in one cabin with him and another male employee, while the other assistants were to stay in another cabin.

She said: “Luckily, I was able to stand up on my own two feet and my daughter got the three-day measles, which was great as it took me off the hook.

“Now I have more of a voice. I could say, ‘I will not be sharing a cabin with you. If the condition of going on this retreat is sharing a cabin, I won’t be going.’”

But Ms Fraser added others who experienced bullying might not know what to do or how to handle it.

She said: “I started out in life, very sweet, very quiet. It would be hard for me when I was younger to confront someone like that.

“Now I’ve grown into my voice and with my speaking for the last 40 years, I know that sometimes we need a little encouragement, we need some techniques in how to approach the bully, how to deal with it because we’re not given those automatic skills.”

Ms Fraser said she wanted to start a movement to create a fairer workplace environment free of unacceptable behaviour.

She added: “I would love a time in Bermuda when there was no sexual harassment, when there wasn’t any bullying and everyone could come to work and celebrate their talents and accomplish the things they are working to accomplish without getting side-railed or distracted with things in the office.”