Introduction to the Human Rights 7 Standards: to prevent sexual harassment

Workplace sexual harassment is prohibited under the Fair Work Act from 6 March 2023. 

These new provisions expand protections from sexual harassment to protect workers, future workers and people conducting a business or undertaking. 

In the next few Workplace Relations News publications, we will be looking at the seven standards set out below outlining what the Human Rights Commission expects businesses to put in place to satisfy the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act. 

This article focuses on 1 to 3 of the 7 Standards:

       1. Leadership
  Management teams are responsible for:

• ensuring appropriate measures for preventing and responding to relevant unlawful conduct are developed
•  recorded in writing, communicated to workers and implemented
• being visible in their commitment to safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces which value diversity and gender equality
• setting clear expectations and 
• role modelling respectful behaviour

      2. Culture
 Private practice must foster a culture that is safe, respectful and inclusive and values diversity and gender equality.

This culture empowers workers (including leaders and managers) to report relevant unlawful conduct, minimises harm and holds people accountable for their actions.

      3. Knowledge
Private practices develop, communicate and implement a policy regarding respectful behaviour and unlawful conduct through education on: 

• standards of behaviour, including actions and attitudes that foster equality and respect 
• behaviours that constitute relevant unlawful conduct and the consequences of such conduct  
• rights and responsibilities in relation to safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces and working relationships.

For Workplace Relations Toolkit subscribers, the Toolkit pack has the Employee handbook and included is the Respect at Work Policy.

If you are not a Toolkit subscriber, be proactive today and purchase the AMA Queensland Policy and Procedures Handbook or talk to a team of experts about a practical approach to preventing sexual harassment