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Sexual harassment: Serious businessSexual harassment: Serious business

Appendix B: Copy of the 2008 Sexual harassment national telephone survey

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Screening for Incidence

Hello, my name is ..............from ................, the national research company. We are conducting a social survey about your experience of work and would be grateful for a few minutes of your time.


S1. Firstly are you aged between 18 and 64?

Yes
1
CONTINUE
No
2
ASK FOR SOMEONE IN HOUSEHOLD WHO IS IN THIS AGE GROUP. IF NOT AVAILABLE ARRANGE CALLBACK

S1b Which of these age groups are you in?


18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64

S2. GENDER

Male
1
Female
2

S3. Are you currently employed?

Full-time
Part-time
Not working
Refused (DO NOT READ)

S4. What is the main language spoken at home?

English
Italian
Greek
Cantonese
Mandarin
Arabic
Vietnamese
Other (SPECIFY) ________________________

This is an important study of the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment. Firstly, I would like to read the definition of Sexual Harassment. I’d like to assure you that your answers to these questions are completely confidential.
“Sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature which makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated, and where that reaction is reasonable in the circumstances”.


Q1. Have you ever personally experienced sexual harassment?

Yes
1
CONTINUE
No
2
GO TO Q5b

Q2. Where was that sexual harassment experienced? READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE
(IF PERSON STATES THEY HAD MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES ASK THEM ABOUT THE MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE)

At your work / in the workplace / in employment by co-workers, your employer, boss or supervisor
CONTINUE
At your work by people other than those just mentioned
CONTINUE
In or at a work related event (eg social event, conference)
CONTINUE
In the provision of goods or services (eg as a customer)
GO TO Q5b
In an educational institution (school, TAFE, university)
GO TO Q5b
Elsewhere (SPECIFY)_________________________________
GO TO Q5b

Q4. When did this harassment start? READ LIST IF REQUIRED SINGLE RESPONSE

Less than 1 year ago
CONTINUE
Between 1 to 2 years ago
CONTINUE
Between 2 to 3 years ago
CONTINUE
Between 3 to 4 years ago
CONTINUE
Between 4 to 5 years ago
CONTINUE
More than 5 years ago
GO TO Q5b

Q5a. Out of the following, how would you describe the harassment? Please answer Yes or No to each one. READ LIST ANSWER YES OR NO FOR EACH ACTION ROTATE

Q5b. In the last five years, have you experienced any of the following in the workplace or at a work related event in a way that was unwelcome? Please answer Yes or No to each one. READ LIST ANSWER YES OR NO FOR EACH ACTION ROTATE


ROTATE – STATEMENT ‘N’ SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE FINAL STATEMENT ASKED, THE PENULTIMATE STATEMENT SHOULD BE ‘L’, AND ALL OTHERS SHOULD BE ROTATED WITH STATEMENT F NEVER TO BE READ FIRST.
Q5a
Q5b
COLUMNS BELOW FOR DATA PURPOSES ONLY
ROTATE READ LIST
Yes
No
Yes
No
Unwanted sexual attention
A
Unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing



Unwanted sexual attention
B
Inappropriate staring or leering that made you feel intimidated



Crude/offensive behaviour
C
Sexually suggestive comments or jokes that made you feel offended



Crude/offensive behaviour
D
Sexually explicit pictures, posters or gifts that made you feel offended



Unwanted sexual attention
E
Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates



Unwanted sexual attention
G
Intrusive questions about your private life or physical appearance that made you feel offended



Crude/offensive behaviour
J
Sexually explicit emails or SMS messages



Sexual assault
K
Inappropriate physical contact



Unwanted sexual attention
M
Repeated or inappropriate advances on email, social networking websites or internet chat rooms by a work colleague



Sexual coercion
F
Requests or pressure for sex or other sexual acts



Sexual assault
L
Actual or attempted rape or assault




N
Any other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature (SPECIFY) _________________________________




IF YES FOR ANY OF Q5A OR Q5B, CONTINUE, OTHERS GOT TO Q21


Q5c. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means not at all offended and 5 means extremely offended, overall how offended did the harassment make you feel? SINGLE RESPONSE REPEAT SCALE IF NECESSARY

Not offended at all


Extremely offended
Don't Know
(DO NOT READ)
1
2
3
4
5
6

Q5d. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means not at all intimidated and 5 means extremely intimidated, overall how intimidated did the harassment make you feel? SINGLE RESPONSE REPEAT SCALE IF NECESSARY

Not intimidated at all


Extremely intimidated
Don't Know
(DO NOT READ)
1
2
3
4
5
6

Q6a. How long did the behaviour/s go on for? SINGLE RESPONSE READ LIST

It was a one off
Less than 1 month
1 to 3 months
4 to 6 months
7 to 12 months
More than one year
Ongoing (continuous)
Sporadic (comes and goes)
Other (SPECIFY) _____________________________

Q6b. Do you know if this happened to anyone else in that same place of work?

Yes
CONTINUE
No
GO TO Q7a

Q6c. Thinking about your workplace at that time, would you say that this type of behaviour was very rare, rare, occurred sometimes or was common? SINGLE RESPONSE REPEAT SCALE IF NECESSARY

Very rare
Rare
Occurred sometimes
Common
Don’t Know (DO NOT READ)

Q7a. Did you seek any informal support or advice about the harassment that happened to you?

Yes
CONTINUE
No
GO TO Q7c

Q7b. If YES, who did you seek informal assistance or advice from? DO NOT READ LIST MULTIPLE RESPONSE

Friends or family
GO TO Q7c
Manager/ supervisor at work
GO TO Q7c
Employer/boss
GO TO Q7c
Human Resources manager or equivalent at work
GO TO Q7c
Equity Officer/ Sexual Harassment Contact Officer/ Harassment Contact Officer
GO TO Q7c
Co-worker
GO TO Q7c
Co-worker more senior than you
GO TO Q7c
A union or employee representative
GO TO Q7c
A lawyer or legal service
GO TO Q7c
Federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission or state or territory anti-discrimination agency
GO TO Q7c
Counselor/Psychologist
GO TO Q7c
The internet (including search engines such as Google and Yahoo)
GO TO Q7c
Community based or religious service
GO TO Q7c
Ombudsman
GO TO Q7c
Police
GO TO Q7c
Other (SPECIFY)_____________________________________
GO TO Q7c

Q7c. Did you formally report or make a complaint about the harassment to anyone?

Yes
CONTINUE
No
GO TO Q8

Q7d. If YES, who did you report the incident to? READ LIST MULTIPLE RESPONSE

Manager/supervisor at work
GO TO Q9
Employer/boss
GO TO Q9
Human Resources manager or equivalent at work
GO TO Q9
Equity Officer/Sexual Harassment Contact Officer/ Harassment Contact Officer
GO TO Q9
Co-worker
GO TO Q9
The person harassing you
GO TO Q9
A union or employee representative
GO TO Q9
A lawyer or legal service
GO TO Q9
Federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission or to a state or territory anti-discrimination agency
GO TO Q9
Other (SPECIFY)_____________________________________
GO TO Q9

Q8. Why did you not report or make a complaint? DO NOT READ LIST PROBE MULTIPLE RESPONSE

Too scared/frightened
GO TO Q12
Easier to just keep quiet
GO TO Q12
Thought would not be believed
GO TO Q12
Person too senior
GO TO Q12
Complaint process would be embarrassing
GO TO Q12
Complaint process would be difficult
GO TO Q12
Would not change things
GO TO Q12
People would treat me like I was the wrong doer
GO TO Q12
Afraid of getting fired
GO TO Q12
Don’t trust the people I could complain to
GO TO Q12
My husband/partner told me not to do anything
GO TO Q12
Damage to my reputation
GO TO Q12
Didn’t think it was serious enough
GO TO Q12
Didn’t want to hurt the person who bothered me
GO TO Q12
Did not think anything would be done
GO TO Q12
Took care of problem myself
GO TO Q12
I did not know who to report it too
GO TO Q12
Did not know how to handle the situation
GO TO Q12
Thought people would think I was over reacting
GO TO Q12
Sexual harassment is accepted in my workplace
GO TO Q12
Moved to another place of work
GO TO Q12
Harasser was already being dealt with
GO TO Q12
Other (SPECIFY)_____________________________________
GO TO Q12

Q9. What were the results to either yourself or the harasser as an outcome of your complaint? READ LIST PROBE MULTIPLE RESPONSE

The harasser was disciplined
(SPECIFY)_____________________________________
The harasser was transferred or changed shifts
The harasser resigned
The harasser was dismissed
The harasser apologised
The harasser paid you compensation
(SPECIFY AMOUNT)__________________________________
Your employer apologised for allowing the harassment
Your employer paid you compensation for allowing the harassment
(SPECIFY AMOUNT)__________________________________
Your employer made changes to the workplace to prevent sexual harassment in the future
Your employer provided you with a reference
You were disciplined
(SPECIFY)_____________________________________
You were transferred or changed shifts
You resigned
You were dismissed
Nothing was done
Harassment stopped
Harasser formally warned
Harasser spoken to
You were demoted
Other (SPECIFY)_____________________________________

Q10. What was the time period between when the harassment began and when you reported it? READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Immediately/same day/next working day
Less than 1 month
1 to 3 months
4 to 6 months
Other (SPECIFY)_____________________________

Q11a. How was your complaint finalised? READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Between your boss and yourself
GO TO Q11b
Between your employer and yourself
GO TO Q11b
With your union’s involvement
GO TO Q11b
With the involvement of the Federal Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, or state or territory anti-discrimination agency
GO TO Q11b
By your legal representative/lawyer
GO TO Q11b
In Court
GO TO Q11b
Other (SPECIFY)_____________________________
GO TO Q11b
Not finalised yet
GO TO Q12

Q11b. How long did it take to finalise your complaint? READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Immediately/same day/next working day
Less than 1 month
1 to 3 months
4 to 6 months
7 to 9 months
9 to 12 months
More than 12 months
Other (SPECIFY)_____________________________

ASK IF YES AT Q7c

Q11c. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means not at all satisfied and 5 means extremely satisfied, overall how would you rate the total process of dealing with your sexual harassment complaint? SINGLE RESPONSE REPEAT SCALE IF NECESSARY

Not at all satisfied


Extremely satisfied
Don't Know
(DO NOT READ)
1
2
3
4
5
6

Q12. Was the harasser male or female? SINGLE RESPONSE

Male
Female

Q13. About how old was the harasser? SINGLE RESPONSE READ LIST IF REQUIRED

15 -20 years
21-30 years
31-40 years
41-50 years
51-64 years
64+ years

Q14. What was the harasser’s relationship to you? READ LIST IF REQUIRED SINGLE RESPONSE

Supervisor/manager
Boss/employer
Co-worker
Co-worker (more senior)
Client/ customer
Others associated with workplace
Other (SPECIFY)__________________________

Now I would like you to think specifically about your workplace when the sexual harassment took place.


Q15. How many employees would there have been at your employer – in total not just at your workplace?

READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Small (less than 25 employees)
Medium-sized (26 to 100 employees)
Large (more than 100 employees)

Q16a. At the time of the harassment were you working full-time or part-time? SINGLE RESPONSE

Full-time
Part-time

Q16b. And was that as a permanent, casual or temporary employee? READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Permanent
Casual
Temporary

Q17. At the time of the harassment how long had you been working for this employer? READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Less than 3 months
More than three months but less than 12 months
More than 12 months but less than 3 years
3 or more years

Q18. What was the industry you were working in at the time the harassment took place? READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Mining
Manufacturing
Electricity, Gas and Water Supply
Construction
Wholesale Trade
Retail Trade
Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants
Transport and Storage
Communication Services
Finance and Insurance
Property and Business Services
Government Administration and Defence
Education
Health and Community Services
Cultural and Recreational Services
Personal and other Services
Other (SPECIFY)__________________________

Q19. What was your occupation at the time the harassment occurred? SINGLE RESPONSE IF NECESSARY READ LIST

Professional Worker--lawyer, doctor, scientist, teacher, engineer, nurse, accountant, investment banker, stock brokerage, marketing, musician
Manager, Executive or Official--in a business, government agency, or other organisation
Business Owner--such as a store, factory, plumbing contractor, etc.
Clerical or Office Worker--in business, government agency, or other type of organization--such as a typist, secretary, postal clerk, telephone operator, computer operator, data entry, bank clerk, etc.
Sales Worker--clerk in a store, door-to-door salesperson, sales associate
Manufacturer's Representative - outside sales person, sales representative
Service Worker--policeman/woman, fireman, waiter or waitress, maid, nurse's aide, attendant, barber or beautician, fast-food
Skilled Tradesman--printer, baker, tailor, electrician, machinist, linesman, railroad engineer, plumber, or does mechanical work such as garage mechanic, carpenter, etc.
Semi-skilled Worker--operates a machine in a factory, is an assembly line worker in a factory, drives a truck, taxi cab, or bus, etc.
Unskilled/Labourer/Elementary Occupations --plumber's helper, construction labourer, longshoreman, sanitation worker, maintenance, housekeeping, or other physical work
Technology professional – web designer, network administrator, systems engineer, programmer, systems analyst, Internet, IT
Agriculture and Fishery Workers
Home Duties
Retired/Pensioner
Student
Other (SPECIFY)__________________________
Don’t Know
Refused (DO NOT READ)

ASK ALL

Q21. Have you witnessed sexual harassment in your workplace in the last five years? SINGLE RESPONSE

Yes
CONTINUE
No
GO TO Q24
Don’t know
GO TO Q24

Q22. Did you take any of the following actions after witnessing this? ROTATE READ LIST ANSWER YES OR NO FOR EACH ACTION


Yes
No
Don’t know
Confront the harasser


Report the harassment to your employer


Talk/Listen to the victim


Offer advice to the victim


Take any other action (SPECIFY) __________________________


Take no action



Now just a few questions about your current situation...


Q24 Where would be your preferred sources of information about sexual harassment? PROBE DO NOT READ LIST RECORD FIRST MENTION AND OTHER MENTIONS
1ST MENTION
OTHER MENTIONS
Friends or family

Internet including search engines such as Google or Yahoo

Manager/supervisor at work

Employer/boss

Human Resources manager or equivalent at work

Equity Officer/Sexual Harassment Contact Officer/ Harassment Contact Officer

Co-worker

Co-worker more senior than you

A union or employee representative

A lawyer or legal service

Australian Human Rights Commission or to a state or territory anti-discrimination agency

Library

Counsellor/Psychologist

Print media such as newspapers, magazines

TV or radio

Citizens Advice Bureau

Don’t know

Other (SPECIFY)________________________


Q25. Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent?

Yes
1
No
2

Q27. What is your total annual HOUSEHOLD income from all sources before taxes? Would it be ...

READ LIST SINGLE RESPONSE

Less than $15,000 per year
$75,000 up to $99,999 per year
$15,000 up to $24,999 per year
$100,000 up to $149,999 per year
$25,000 up to $34,999 per year
$150,000 up to $199,999 per year

$35,000 up to $44,999 per year
$200,000 and over
$45,000 up to $55,999 per year
Don’t Know
$55,000 up to $74,999 per year
Refused

Q28. Please could you tell me what age you are? (Code actual age)

WRITE IN AGE _________
Refused

Q29. And can I check your postcode is ________________


We may be conducting further research in the future. Can we re-contact you in that case?


Yes
1
No
2