The Australian Human Rights Commission has published a new report revealing the levels of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.
The report, Everyone’s Business: Fourth National Survey on Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces, released by Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins (pictured) found that a third (33 per cent) of all workers in the nation reported being sexually harassed at work.
This compared with one in five in the equivalent survey in 2012 and one in 10 in 2003.
The report shows that 6.4 per cent of victims were found in Public Sector and Safety category.
Ms Jenkins said the new figures showed that sexual harassment continued to be a major problem in Australian workplaces.
“What is clear is that this conduct begins the moment people enter the workplace, and that harassers prey on those less powerful than them,” Ms Jenkins said.
“Young people between the ages of 18 and 29 are the most likely to be sexually harassed at work.”
She said the Commission’s survey of 10,000 people found that 39 per cent of women and 26 per cent of men said they had been sexually harassed at work in the past five years.
For the first time, the survey results provided industry specific data. For example, four out of five people working in information, media and telecommunications reported being sexually harassed.
Ms Jenkins said the results revealed that formal reporting of workplace sexual harassment continued to be low, with only 17 per cent of people making a report or complaint.
With funding from the Department of Social Services, this is the fourth such survey undertaken by the commission since 2003.
The Commission’s 185-page survey report can be accessed at this PS News link.
