Nearly ten years after Congress implemented reforms to address sexual harassment complaints, current and former Capitol Hill staff members report that inappropriate behavior remains a persistent problem in the workplace.

The reforms were instituted to create more accessible reporting mechanisms for women and other staff members who experience harassment while working in congressional offices. The measures were designed to lower barriers that previously made it difficult for employees to file formal complaints against members of Congress or senior staff.

Despite these institutional changes, lawmakers and their aides indicate that sexual harassment continues to occur regularly within the Capitol Hill work environment. The ongoing nature of these issues suggests that the procedural reforms may not have achieved their intended effect of substantially reducing inappropriate workplace behavior.

The New York Times is actively seeking accounts from current and former Capitol Hill workers who have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment or other inappropriate sexual behavior in their congressional workplaces. This effort to collect firsthand testimony indicates continued concerns about the scope and persistence of the problem.

The reported continuation of harassment behavior raises questions about the effectiveness of the institutional changes made nearly a decade ago and whether additional measures may be needed to address workplace conduct issues in Congress.