Resolved complaint (318) about sex discrimination in employment

About the complaint

The complainant worked as a metalwork coordinator in the respondent defence industry company. She said most of the staff were male and female staff were predominatly employed in administrative roles. She alleged her manager made derogatory and sexist comments about women during staff meetings and told her she could not move teams because she was ‘there to support the mental health of [her] male colleagues’. The complainant also alleged her manager disclosed to her colleagues that she had undergone a hystorectomy without her consent, leading to unwelcome discussion of the issue in the workplace. The complainant said she did not feel safe to return to work in the same team.

The company said it had behaved in accordance with relevant policies and legislative requirements. The company said it had appropriate policies and training in place to prevent sex and other discrimination and harassment.

The complaint was resolved by conciliation with an agreement to end the employment relationship. The company agreed to pay the complainant the equivalent of four weeks’ salary in lieu of notice, all outstanding statutory entitlements, $35,000 as general damages and $25,000 as a contribution to legal costs.

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