3 November 2008
Sexual harassment findings announced as party season starts
The results of the 2008 Sexual Harassment National Telephone Survey, released by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick today, show that sexual harassment remains a serious problem in workplaces, despite some improvement since 2003.
“With the unofficial commencement of Christmas party season on Melbourne Cup Day tomorrow, the findings of this research have particular resonance for employers and businesses,” Commissioner Broderick said.
The results of the survey show that in 2008, 22 per cent of women and 5 per cent of men have been sexually harassed in the workplace, compared to 28 per cent of women and 7 per cent of men when the research was last conducted, in 2003.
“It is encouraging that there has been an improvement,” said the Commissioner, “but the results of the survey also tell us that efforts to drive down sexual harassment in the workplace need to continue”.
Commissioner Broderick said that one of the strengths of the research was its unique finding that approximately one in five respondents who said they had not experienced sexual harassment revealed, after further questioning, that they had encountered behaviours that may amount to sexual harassment under the law.
“This finding supports something I heard repeatedly during my Listening Tour – that there is significant confusion among people about the type of behaviour that constitutes sexual harassment,” the Commissioner said.
“These findings emphasise the need for employers to engage in regular training that includes specific examples of behaviour that would constitute sexual harassment.”
Physical behaviours such as unwelcome touching or hugging or non-physical behaviours such as unwelcome sexually explicit emails, sexually suggestive jokes or intrusive questions about a person’s personal life may amount to sexual harassment.
“The report also identifies the need for us to create environments where people feel safe to make a complaint if they experience sexual harassment,” Ms Broderick said.
The Commissioner said that each year there was an increase in complaints of sexual harassment during the end of year party season.
Ms Broderick said that the release of the research was timely, and urged employers to take this opportunity to reinforce a clear message that inappropriate behaviour has no place at work or at work related events.
The report can be downloaded at www.humanrights.gov.au/sexualharassment/index.html
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
