Resolved complaint (298) about racial and sex discrimination in employment
Learn how complaint (298) about racial and sex discrimination in employment was resolved through conciliation.
Summary
- Year: 2026
- Relevant Act: Racial Discrimination Act; Sex Discrimination Act
- Grounds: Descent; Ethnic origin; National origin/extraction; Race; Sex; sex-based harassment; Sexual harassment
- Area(s): Employment
- Settlement terms:
- Policy - anti-discrimination/EEO policy reviewed/revised
- Reference
- Statement of service
- Training - anti-discrimination/EEO training reviewed/revised
- Compensation
- Settlement amount: $30,000
About the complaint
The complainant is Korean and worked as a chef at the respondent resort. She alleged that during a shift in the kitchen, the executive chef said words to the effect that he didn't like Korean women ‘because they are all angry and the reason is because Korean men have the smallest penises in the world’. She said her colleagues laughed at the comment. The complainant alleged every time the executive chef saw something small he would joke that it was Korean. She said she asked him to stop on multiple occasions and he then began criticising her work. The complainant said she felt she had no option but to resign.
On being informed of the complaint, the resort and executive chef agreed to participate in conciliation to try to resolve the complaint.
The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the resort provide the complainant with a statement of service and a positive written reference and pay her $30,000 in compensation for hurt, humiliation and distress. The resort also undertook to continue to monitor its provision of training and support about racial discrimination and sexual harassment to ensure compliance with discrimination law.
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