The latest data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGAE) reveal insights into how Australian workplaces are managing safety in relation to sexual harassment.
With the positive duty to proactively protect against gendered violence including sexual harassment being established in 2022, almost all employers report having developed formal policies addressing sexual harassment. However more than a quarter of them do not monitor the issue within their organisations, highlighting a critical gap in the provision of a safe workplace and how they address the realities of harassment.
While 98% of employers report having established harassment reporting processes, 32% do not offer an anonymous reporting option. Anonymity significantly enhances the likelihood of incidents being reported and is therefore a vital element of creating a responsive environment.
Training is an area where employers are failing to be proactive, with many of the 88% of employers who do provide some form of training, only doing so at induction or annually, with no ongoing reinforcement.
It is important the employers understand that they not only have a duty to respond to harassment, but also to actively prevent it from occurring. This latest data is a crucial reminder for employers to address and mitigate workplace harassment effectively.
As WGEA prepares to release the Australia’s Gender Equality Scorecard later this month, it is evident that while some progress has been made, substantial work remains.
