Organisations Push for Workplace Sexual Harassment Reform

A group of over 100 organisations has made a joint submission to the national ­inquiry into workplace sexual harassment, demanding “urgent and coordinated” action on the growing issue.

The group, which includes unions, researchers, peak bodies, health professionals and lawyers, want state and federal governments to take stronger action on workplace sexual harassment, including establishing an anti-sexual harassment jurisdiction in the Fair Work Commission.

“It [sexual harassment] is a problem that is deeply entrenched within our society and occurs because gender inequality is ingrained in our social and cultural norms, structures and practices,” a joint statement says.

“It’s time that employers and workplaces stamp out sexual harassment. Sexual harassment causes significant harm to individuals, workplaces and society. We know what the solutions are, but we need governments and employers to implement them. We need strong action to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, and we need it now.”

The five-point plan aimed at creating safe workplaces:

• Dedicated prevention efforts to address the underlying gendered drivers of sexual harassment, which should be part of a holistic strategy to prevent violence against women and promote gender equality.

• Stronger and clearer legal duties on employers to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment at work, and strong and effective regulators that have the full suite of regulatory tools and resources necessary to effectively tackle sexual harassment, including as a cultural, a systemic and a health and safety issue.

• Access to fair, effective and efficient complaints processes, including a new right of action under the Fair Work Act, extended time limits, increased transparency of conciliation outcomes where appropriate, and other amendments and resources necessary to address the unique barriers that currently prevent workers who experience sexual harassment from taking effective legal action.

• Appropriate advocacy and support for workers who experience sexual harassment, including access to information, counselling and legal services that are appropriately resourced and coordinated.

• Accessible reporting tools, including piloting an online reporting tool that assists people to report and address problem behaviour and seek support, and identifies trends to assist with prevention and enforcement efforts.

In June 2018, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins, announced a national inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces (see related article).

As part of the inquiry, an extensive national survey investigated the prevalence, nature and reporting of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces and the community more broadly. It found that almost two in five women (39%) and just over one in four men (26%) have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the last five years.