Horror as one in three Australians sexually harassed at work: study

A new study has found that one in three Australians have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace and most cases of harassment go unreported.

The Reality of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace in Australia report, produced by Burke Mangan Lawyers, found that while the rate of sexual harassment incidents has remained somewhat stable, one in three Australians have experienced the problem in the workplace.

Their data showed that 41 percent of women, 26 percent of men, and 67 percent of gender non-binary people were targeted.

Despite the introduction of the Affirmative Duty in the Sex Discrimination Act in December 2022, which makes employers legally responsible for taking “reasonable and proportionate steps” to eliminate sexual harassment and hostile working environments, only one in five people will report it, the analysis found.

“Despite over a decade of reform and awareness, the numbers remain stubbornly high,” said Lyndon Burke, co-founder of Burke Mangan Lawyers.

“It is clear that the policy on paper has not yet translated into safer workplaces.”

The sectors most frequently exposed to sexual harassment in the workplace are information, media and telecommunications (64 percent), followed by arts and entertainment (44 percent) and retail (40 percent).

Mr Burke said these industries tended to have “male-dominated workforces, younger or more vulnerable staff, poor workplace culture at events where alcohol was involved and a lack of training, support and consequences”.

“This combination allowed the abuse to continue,” he explained.

According to the research, young workers are also the age group most exposed to sexual harassment in the workplace, affecting 47 per cent of staff aged 15 to 17 and 46 per cent of workers aged 19 to 29.

The research found that younger staff are less likely to report harassment, which can lead to greater mental and emotional distress.

Two-thirds of harassment victims reported mental and emotional health effects that disproportionately affected women.

Mr Burke said young people not talking about abuse could lead to further abuse.

“It can also cause workforce disengagement, emotional and physical harm, and long-term instability,” he said.

Although only one in five people who experience sexual harassment at work will actually report it, nearly a quarter said the harasser faces no consequences.

“This shows us that reporting systems are still victims of failure,” Mr Burke said.

The research also revealed that nearly half of organizations provide employees with information on how to report sexual harassment, and 40 percent do not provide any training to prevent sexual harassment.

“Employers must identify risks, assess their likelihood and magnitude, and eliminate or minimize them,” he said.

“This means having robust policies, staff and manager training and a clear complaints process.

“These may seem like impositions, but the benefits are huge – a happier, more engaged workforce and a culture of respect.”

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