ARTICLE · 29 FEBRUARY 2012

Sexual Harassment at Work

Kott Gunning

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An employee received compensation when she sued her former employer over a string of sexual harassment incidents.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

David Kew (Previously With Kott Gunning)

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The Anti-Discrimination Tribunal of Tasmania recently considered a complaint by Laura Connors, who sued her former employer, David Richardson, over a string of sexual harassment incidents.

Ms Connors, who was only 15 years old at the time, worked at a local fast-food restaurant where her boss repeatedly touched, pinched and squeezed her bottom as she worked in the kitchen. Despite his protests that any "brushing" or touching was due to the confined nature of the kitchen area, the Tribunal found that he had deliberately sexually harassed Ms Connors and enjoyed using the opportunities to touch her.

The outcome of the case was that Mr. Richardson was ordered to pay Ms Connors $12,000 in compensation.

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