Laws have failed women: Six in ten harassed at work, survey shows

Almost two-thirds of women, and one-third of men have been sexually harassed at work — but less than half of them report it, a survey reveals.

Few women believe laws surrounding sexual harassment at work will deliver justice, the survey reveals.

Sixty per cent of women and one third of men say they have been sexually harassed at work, a new ACTU survey finds.

More than 7500 people have taken part in the survey which started in September and will be open until November 30

Sixty one per cent of women and 35 per cent of men said they had experienced sexual harassment at work but less than half of those harassed reported the incident.

Forms of harassment included crude or offensive behaviour, unwanted sexual attention, inappropriate physical contact, and harassment on social media.

Sixty four per cent said they witnessed sexual harassment at work, but two thirds did not make a formal complaint, and 40 per cent did not tell anyone at all.

More than half said they feared negative consequences if they spoke up.

Of those who said they experienced sexual harassment in their most recent workplace, 69 per cent said they faced crude or offensive behaviour and 46 per cent said they endured unwanted sexual attention.

One third said they faced inappropriate physical contact of a sexual nature; eight per cent endured sexual coercion and 18 per cent experienced sexual harassment through social media.

ACTU president Michele O’Neil said people should be able to go to work free from the fear of harassment and unwanted sexual attention.

“For many people — mainly women — today in Australia this is not the reality,’ she said.

‘Our workplace laws have failed women who are experiencing harassment at work.

“The fact that thousands have chosen to take part in this survey in only six weeks shows how important this issue is to working people in Australia.

“The interim results show that while nearly two thirds of women have experienced harassment, very few believe that our current rules will deliver them justice.

“We need to change the rules. Sexual harassment is a workplace issue and people who experience it should be able to take it up through the workplace umpire.

“We need access to fair, effective and efficient complaints mechanisms that support people who’ve been harassed, not punish them.”

Thirty five per cent of men said they’d experienced sexual harassment at work.