[dbaust] Sexual Harassment still widespread in Australian workplaces from Australian human rights Commission.
- From: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: Erika Webb <erikaweb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:17:10 -0700 (PDT)
Sexual Harassment still widespread in Australian workplaces from Australian
human rights Commission.
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Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, released Working without
fear: Results of the sexual harassment national telephone survey 2012 today,
which shows that sexual harassment is not only widespread in Australian
workplaces, but that progress in addressing it has stalled.
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âThis research is conducted every four years and shows that little has
changed,â Commissioner Broderick said. âIt shows that approximately one in five
people aged 15 years and older were sexually harassed in the workplace in the
past five years, an extraordinary figure.â
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The research shows that one in four women (25%) and one in six men (16%) have
been sexually harassed in the workplace in the past five years. If a personâs
entire lifetime is considered, the gender gap is even more profound with a
third of women (33%) and less than one in ten men (9%) experiencing sexual
harassment.
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Targets of sexual harassment are most likely to be women under 40 and harassers
are most likely to be male co-workers. Women are at least five times more
likely than men to have been harassed by a boss or employer. Men harassing
women accounts for more than half of all sexual harassment, while male
harassment of men accounts for nearly a quarter.
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Commissioner Broderick said that one of the most encouraging parts of the
research concerned the role of bystanders - people who witnessed or later
became aware of sexual harassment.
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âFifty-one per cent of people who were bystanders â that is over half - took
some action to prevent or reduce the harm of the sexual harassment they were
aware of,â she said. âBystanders have an extremely important role to play in
confronting and combatting sexual harassment.â
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Commissioner Broderick said that bystanders can help to prevent and reduce the
harm of sexual harassment and ensure safe work environments for themselves and
their colleagues, but they needed to be supported and empowered, which would
mean a huge shift in organisational culture.
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âSexual harassment is unlawful and has no place in Australian workplaces,â Ms
Broderick said.
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âEradicating sexual harassment from our workplaces will require leadership and
a genuine commitment from everyone â government, employers, employer
associations, unions and employees.â
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The survey provides the only national and trend data on sexual harassment in
Australian workplaces and is available at:
www.humanrights.gov.au/sexualharassment/survey/
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