2018-11-23
The complainant worked at the respondent university and claimed her manager, an academic, discriminated against her on the ground of her sex by undermining her, commenting on her appearance and referring to her as ‘looking good, but not adding any value to the portfolio’. She said the manager resigned after she made a complaint about him. She claimed there was a ‘boys’ club’ culture and she was not offered promotional opportunities that she had been promised or that she had sought. She alleged another academic sexually harassed her by making comments including ‘you’re pretty hot’. She said that after she made a complaint about this behaviour, her manager treated her less favourably and another academic did not support the renewal of her contract.
The respondents claimed the alleged comments were mischaracterised by the complainant and were not of a sexual nature. The university claimed the complainant was not the most qualified person for the promotional opportunities and that her contract was not renewed for operational reasons.
The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the university pay the complainant $17,500.
Year
Discrimination type
Sex Discrimination Act
Grounds
Sex
Sexual harassment
Victimisation
Areas
Employment
Compensation
Amount
$17,500