Gary Martin: Time to expose sexual predators in the workplace
A NATIONAL inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces is long overdue. But while it is a meteoric step in the right direction, most experts agree part of the solution is staring us in the face.
Opinion
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THE recent announcement that Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins would lead a national inquiry into sexual harassment in Australian workplaces is long overdue.
According to Ms Jenkins, the inquiry will involve an in-depth examination of sexual harassment in the workplace and include an opportunity for employees, employers and members of the public to work towards ensuring Australian workplaces are safe and respectful for everyone.
It’s now more than 30 years since the Sex Discrimination Act (SDA) came into force, which many believed would heal the scourge of sexual harassment and exploitation in the Australian community and our workplaces.
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The SDA covers myriad inappropriate and often repugnant behaviours including leering, unwelcome physical touching, suggestive comments or jokes, unwanted requests for sex, along with criminal activities such as sexual assault.
Yet despite strong measures to outlaw sexual harassment, and a heightened awareness of it, pundits argue that sexual harassment in our community remains rife.
With the results of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2018 fourth National Workplace Sexual Harassment Survey due next month, many will be bracing themselves.
Ms Jenkins has said early indications are that rates have increased significantly since the survey was last conducted in 2012.
While the 12-month inquiry is welcome and represents a meteoric step in the right direction, most experts agree part of the solution is staring us in the face.
Just as authorities rely on all community members to be the “eyes and ears of the street” to combat crime, we need every community member to summon up the courage to expose those who have sexually harassed others.
Just think about it for a moment. The many bystanders who have observed sexual harassment and not taken any action have given offenders unlimited continuing authority to execute their abhorrent behaviours.
They have, albeit unwittingly in most instances, contributed to embedding a culture of depravity in our workplaces and in our broader community.
Here’s the rub: evidence is mounting to suggest that most bystanders do not take action.
Of course onlookers might be ignorant of which behaviours constitute sexual harassment, fear they will be the subject of reprisal, or feel that those in leadership positions will not act on their complaints.
It’s time to change that. Those in leadership positions must increasingly make it clear what actions or behaviours constitute sexual harassment. They need to increase awareness that sexual harassment is not acceptable, and they must encourage all bystanders to take action if this scourge is to be reduced and eventually eradicated.
Onlookers, let’s not wait a year for the inquiry to deliver its findings. Let’s step up and expose these predators now.
— Professor Gary Martin is chief executive of the Australian Institute of Management
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