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About EOWA: Contains information on the Agency's role, the Act and our vision and mission statements. This section also contains the Director's profile and employment opportunites at the Agency.
About Equal Opportunity: Contains information on the importance of Equal Opportunity in the workplace and how it can benefit both your business and employees.
Developing a Workplace Program and Reporting: Includes all you need to know about reporting and compliance including developing workplace programs, submitting a compliance report and applying to be waived from reporting.
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 Home : Australian Women in Leadership Census : About Equal Opportunity : Key Agenda Items : Harassment and Discrimination

Sexual harassment and sexual discrimination remain the most common grounds of complaint to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth).

Fact 1
Of the complaints received by HREOC under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in 2000-01, 230 (42%) were based on the ground of sex discrimination while 167 (30%) were based on the ground of sexual harassment.11 

Fact 2
In 2000-01, women represented 83% of complainants under the Act. 

Sexual harassment and discrimination however are not just about women. What impacts on women also impacts on men and, consequently, on your entire organisation.

Fact 3
Of the complaints received by HREOC under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 in 2000-01, 450 complaints or 81% arose in the employment field, of which the large majority (83%) were lodged by women.

Allowing sexual harassment to remain unchecked can expose employers to the cost, inconvenience and damaging publicity of legal proceedings and compensation claims. 

Employers are not only liable for their own acts of sexual harassment. They can also be held legally responsible for sexual harassment by their employees unless all reasonable precautions are taken.

More Facts on Sexual Harassment in Australia

  • One in four young women aged between 16 and 25 has suffered sexual harassment at work.12
  • 16% of managers have had at least one sexual harassment complaint at their workplace over a one year period.13
  • The number of sexual harassment complaints to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has increased from 15% to 46% of all complaints in the past ten years.14
  • The NSW Anti-Discrimination Board estimates that one incident of sexual harassment can cost an organisation $36,000. This estimate does not include damages, but only the time spent attempting to resolve the complaint both internally and at the Anti-Discrimination Board.

For more information, see
Sex Based Harassment Tool
Sex Discrimination Unit Website

11. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Annual Report 2000-01.
12. Research conducted by HREOC, 1990.
13. The Australian Workplace and Industrial Relations Survey (AWIRS) 1995.
14. From 1988 to 1998. The current percentage of complaints is 48%.
 
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For every $1 a company spends on flexible work or family benefits, there is a return of $2 through to $6 through reduced absenteeism, increased motivation and higher rates of retention?

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