Workplace rights
Understand your rights to a safe workplace free from discrimination and harassment, with guidance on protections and remedies available to you.
What are workplace rights?
As an employee, you have the right to be treated fairly and with respect. Workplace discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than another person due to a range of factors that could include age, gender, ability and access.
Workplace rights protect you from discrimination you may face as an employee both in the public and private sector.
Key rights include:
- Being treated fairly, no matter their background.
- Having a voice in decisions that affect them.
- Living in safety and with dignity.
- Accessing education and healthcare.
- Having time for play, rest, and cultural activities.
Submit a concern to us
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Tell us about any concerns you have with an organisation or business not complying with the positive duty.
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The Commission inquires into and helps resolve complaints about discrimination and breaches of human rights.
Know your rights - resources
The positive duty in the Sex Discrimination Act
Employers have a positive duty to eliminate, as far as possible, work-related sexual harassment, sexist conduct, sex discrimination and related victimisation.
The benefits of employing people with disability
Explore the business, organisational and economic benefits of employing people with disability, and why inclusive hiring strengthens workplaces.
Disability discrimination and the workplace
Understand your rights at work: how disability discrimination laws protect employees and what reasonable adjustments employers must provide.
Benefits of a multigenerational workforce
Learn about the challenges and opportunities for older workers.
Learn more about workplace rights
Haven't found what you're looking for?
Discrimination overlaps in many ways. If you can’t find what you need on this page, try the following:
What action can you take?
You may want to deal with the situation yourself by raising it directly with the person or people involved. If this does not resolve the situation, or you do not feel comfortable doing this, you can make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The Australian Human Rights Commission Act protects you to get fair treatment in public and private sector employment.
Preventing discrimination in your workplace
Learn how to prevent discrimination in your workplace
Support services
Resources
Resource for employers
Evolving definitions and demographics of disability
Workplace assessment tool
Evolving definitions and demographics of disability
Resources for employees
Evolving definitions and demographics of disability
Resources for educators and academics
Evolving definitions and demographics of disability
