The Finance Sector Union (FSU) has conducted a survey that reveals that many workers in the sector are experiencing sexual harassment at work, but may not be recognising it as such, and even when they do, are hesitant to report.
The survey found only half of those who experienced harassment reported it, mostly because they lacked confidence their employers would take appropriate action. Despite this, many employers believed there was a low risk of sexual harassment in their organisations.
The FSU suggests employers need to better understand what constitutes sexual harassment and create more effective reporting systems and recommend adopting a lower standard of proof when investigating complaints and focusing on support for complainants.
The FSU convened a roundtable discussion with representatives from major banks, insurers, and superannuation funds to address sexual harassment in the workplace, where recommendations were made to improve consultation, education and eliminate cultural factors that contribute to harassment.
Source: Workplace Express, 29 February
