ARTICLE · 26 JULY 2014

Landmark sexual harassment judgment opens the gate for significant compensation claims

Clayton Utz

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The Oracle case highlights a significant upward shift in compensation for claims of sexual harassment in the workplace.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Jessica Keogh

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Key Points:

The Oracle case has highlighted a significant upward shift in compensation that may be awarded as a result of sexual harassment in the workplace.

In a landmark sexual harassment judgement, the Full Court of the Federal Court has set a new benchmark for compensation awarded to victims of sexual harassment in the workplace.

In Richardson v Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 82 the Full Court has mirrored current community expectations about the sum of compensation to be awarded for the pain and suffering caused to victims of workplace sexual harassment. In its decision it significantly increased the damages awarded to an ex-employee of Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Ltd who was subjected to unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace.

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