2019-02-12
The complainant worked as a sales assistant and then as a store manager with the respondent furniture company. She alleged that two male directors and a male colleague sexually harassed her over several years, including by drawing sexually explicit cartoons and showing them to her, telling her she needed a ‘boob job’, making comments of a sexual nature, telling sexually explicit stories and showing other colleagues sexually explicit videos. The complainant claimed other directors took no action in response to her concerns about this conduct and so she felt she had no option but to resign.
The respondents claimed the complainant was a willing participant in any conduct of a sexual nature that did take place and that she engaged in like conduct.
The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the respondents would jointly pay the complainant $30,000 and that the company will develop a discrimination and harassment policy which will include discussion of sexual harassment and sex discrimination. Each individual respondent also agreed to write to the complainant expressing regret for the incidents giving rise to the complaint and to undertake training delivered by an external provider on discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sex discrimination.
Year
Discrimination type
Sex Discrimination Act
Grounds
Sex
Sexual harassment
Areas
Employment
Compensation
Anti-discrimination/EEO policy developed
Statement of regret
Anti discrimination/EEO training introduced
Named individual(s) to undertake anti-discrimination/EEO Training
Amount
$30,000