ARTICLE · 27 JUNE 2018

Sexual harassment and bullying – an ongoing challenge for the modern workplace

Kott Gunning

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An interesting discussion about sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace – where we are at, the view of the courts….

AustraliaEmployment and HR

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Australia has been alive to sexual and other express forms of discrimination since the mid-1980's, with the establishment of the Sex Discrimination Act in 1984 and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 1986. Yet despite over thirty years of operation and practice, if the behaviours of senior business leaders (read top-tier lawyers), well known entertainers, churchman and politicians, to say nothing of the everyday conduct of many lower to middle management employees are to be factored in, it is clear that we are yet to learn the lessons. So much so, that the changes sort by the legislative framework can be described as anything but 'baked-in'.

Given the impact on the bottom line, the question is, why have we been so utterly negligent in addressing the issue?

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