Amidst the pandemic, China introduced a civil code-its
first-ever compilation of civil laws detailing the rights of
private parties. The code's attention to sexual harassment
provides another important reminder that even as workplaces focus
on virtual workforces, social distancing, and other novel legal
issues, workplace respect and inclusion remain essential to a
well-functioning workplace.
In China, as in many countries in the region and worldwide, the
rise of the #MeToo movement confirmed a significant
pattern of undetected sexual harassment. A defining moment in
China's #MeToo movement involved a university student's
public accusations against a prominent faculty member in 2018,
after which the university removed the professor from his teaching
position. Other Chinese women quickly joined the movement, speaking
out about sexual harassment committed by other respected male
figures.
