Respect @ Work
Project status: Active
How can we identify and normalise effective prevention and response approaches to workplace sexual harassment?
In the era of social movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp, the focus on the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace has gained significant momentum.
In 2020, the Australian Human Rights Commission released its National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces, finding that “workplace sexual harassment is prevalent and pervasive: it occurs in every industry, in every location and at every level, in Australian workplaces”. This is especially true for vulnerable groups like women, culturally and linguistically diverse workers, First Nations workers, people living with a disability, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
While there are significant efforts being made by Australian businesses to reduce the instance of sexual harassment in the workplace, there are still gaps in understanding the best practice approaches to effective prevention and response.
Closing the gap in sexual harassment for vulnerable groups
Working with The Centre for Organisations and Social Change (COSC) - RMIT University, The University of Newcastle and the NSW Government’s Respect at Work Taskforce, this project aims to provide a robust evidence base for the creation of interventions that:
- Are effective in preventing incidences of sexual harassment in the workplace; and
- Provide effective responses to incidences of workplace sexual harassment from notification right through to conclusion of investigation.
The research will address vulnerable groups in high-risk industries with an emphasis on finding solutions that are considerate of the worker’s rights and needs, and practicable for the employer.
The findings and resulting interventions will be implemented by the Respect at Work Taskforce with a view to educate and upskill NSW businesses in preventing and responding to incidences of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Further reading
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