The Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner has welcomed a positive response from Australian businesses and organisations to waive some of their confidentiality agreements to support a national inquiry into sexual harassment in workplaces.
The Commissioner, Kate Jenkins (pictured) said a huge number of sexual harassment cases were raised and responded to within businesses and organisations.
“Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs) mean we know very little about them. I want all parties to NDAs to be able to talk to us confidentially or make confidential submissions,” Ms Jenkins said.
She said 25 key employers had answered the call including five universities, two of the big four banks, two of the big four consultancy firms, two major law firms, two mining corporations, and the Public Services in two States and one Territory.
She said they had been joined by a range of key players in utilities, telecommunications, construction and advertising.
“I am grateful to these organisations for demonstrating their leadership and commitment to tackling the national problem of workplace sexual harassment by supporting the limited waiver,” Ms Jenkins said.
“People who are party to a non-disclosure agreement with any of these organisations can now feel safe in coming forward and confidentially telling their story to the National Workplace Sexual Harassment Inquiry, and I urge them to do so.
Submissions to the inquiry close on 28 February.
