S-x Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody and Working Women's Centre chief Abbey Kendall have told an international conference that Australia needs national laws to stop non-disclosure deals silencing victim-survivors of workplace harassment and discrimination, as a campaign urges the Albanese Government to go further than Victoria's imminent regime.
An academic will tell a major conference that employers must create safe environments for workers to speak out and report harassment and bullying, with recent victimisation findings and rising 'hostile environment' complaints putting positive duty obligations in the spotlight.
Only a quarter of scientists who sought assistance from HR after experiencing bullying or intimidation found them supportive, while 39% found HR "useless" and 19% said they "actively made things worse", according to a survey conducted by Griffith University academics.
Shadow workplace relations minister Michaelia Cash has welcomed "several good ideas" on IR policy from the party's NSW branch, which give possible pointers to the forthcoming Federal manifesto.
A review conducted by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick has found poor HR practices and people management have contributed to s-xual harassment and assault and bullying in NSW parliamentary workplaces and that cultural, policy and legislative barriers are preventing reporting of incidents.
High Court employees accusing judges of inappropriate conduct can request formal external investigations, avoid further contact and if necessary secure an alternative position of equivalent status under a new policy on justices' workplace conduct.
The Morrison Government will establish an independent complaints mechanism to handle sexual harassment, assaults and bullying in Federal parliamentary workplaces, while it is also considering "naming and shaming" MPs and senators who fail to undertake anti-harassment training.
S-x Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins is set to conduct an independent inquiry into Federal parliamentary workplaces, after a request from the Morrison Government.
Social media "moves the dial" on harassing workplace behaviour and will contribute to more litigation flowing through to the courts, according to Australian Human Resources Institute chair Peter Wilson.
Unions will next week consider pushing for stronger remedies for unfair dismissal by adopting measures such as removing the $73,000 compensation limit, enabling employees to pursue more than their lost income and empowering them to seek penalties against employers.
