From inappropriate touching to belittling comments, women advisors confront workplace environments that are far from welcoming.

Scratch beneath the surface, and there is a lingering feeling among many in the banking, payments and mortgage sectors that not only is harassment present, but it may actually be inevitable. Experts say institutions need to combat that mindset — or else.

Many workers in the technology departments across a range of industries describe behavior that may fall short of a legal definition of sexual harassment, but is still disturbing and could contribute to low employee morale and high turnover.

Men and women who work in accounting say there’s a low prevalence of sexual harassment in the profession; the numbers suggest otherwise.

Human resources professionals are looking to fight bad behavior driven by upper management.

Chicago-based mortgage lender Guaranteed Rate has laid off about 180 employees around the country — including about 30 in Chicago — after the amount of new mortgage loans the company funded dipped in 2017.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending March 9.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending March 2.

In a move designed to recruit and retain high-quality origination staff and fuel its expansion plans, USA Mortgage is turning over 100% control of the St. Louis-based nonbank lender to its workers through an employee stock ownership plan.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Feb. 23.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Feb. 16.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Feb. 9.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Feb. 2.

Mortgage lead generation costs are notoriously variable and tough to control, especially when lenders are trying to save money with origination call centers.

More than 70% of women mortgage professionals have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, but these incidents go drastically underreported, according to a recent Mortgage Bankers Association survey.

With compensation accounting for 80% of the cost to originate a mortgage, lenders are developing new strategies to attract and retain top talent, while keeping wage expenses in check.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Jan. 26.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Jan. 19.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Jan. 12.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Jan. 5.