Victorians are being called on to take a stand against workplace violence that targets people because of their gender or sexual orientation.
Welcoming the new campaign from WorkSafe Victoria, Minister for Workplace Safety, Ingrid Stitt said the campaign It comes in many forms reminded viewers that gendered violence was never ‘just part of the job’ and employers had a duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent it.
“Any behaviour that affects the health and safety of someone because of their gender, sexual orientation, or because they don’t conform to gender stereotypes, is work-related gendered violence and is a serious occupational health and safety hazard,” Ms Stitt said.
“It can include stalking, verbal abuse, unwelcome comments or gestures, or even threats or physical violence and can involve colleagues, supervisors, clients or customers,” she said.
“Sadly, many incidents still go unreported as victims may fear stigma or even losing their job if they speak up, particularly if they are already in insecure employment.”
Ms Stitt said some workers were more likely to experience work-related gendered violence, including women, young workers, workers who are LGBTIQA+, from culturally diverse or migrant backgrounds, with disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers.
The Minister said the campaign would generate more awareness about what wasn’t appropriate and encourage Victorians to call out and report the behaviour when they saw it in the workplace.
She said the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2018 national survey found that one in three people had been sexually harassed at work in the previous five years, and that 83 per cent of incidents of workplace sexual harassment were not formally reported.
“The campaign seeks to increase understanding and educate employers about their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to prevent and respond to gendered violence at work, as far as reasonably practicable,” Ms Stitt said.
Information about the campaign can be accessed at this PS News link.
