This anti-harassment policy:
Harassment includes any unwelcome behaviour that offends, humiliates or intimidates a person.
A person is subjected to ‘workplace harassment’ if the person is exposed to repeated behaviour by a person, including the person’s employer or a co-worker or group of co-workers of the person, that:
The following ‘examples’ of discrimination and harassment are intended to be guidelines only and are not exclusive when determining if there has been a violation.
Verbal harassment may include any comments that are offensive or unwelcome regarding a person’s national origin, race, colour, religion, gender, genetic information, sexual orientation, age, body, disability or appearance, including offensive nicknames, slurs and negative stereotyping.
Non-verbal harassment may include the distribution, display or discussion of any written or graphic material that ridicules, denigrates, insults, belittles or shows hostility, aversion or disrespect toward an individual or group because of national origin, race, colour, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, appearance, disability, sexual identity, marital status or other protected status.
An anti-harassment policy is a set of rules designed to prevent harassment from occurring in the workplace. This type of policy typically includes a definition of harassment, procedures for reporting harassment, and consequences for violating the policy.
An anti-harassment policy can help prevent and deal with harassment in the workplace. When defining harassment, it is important to include both verbal and physical conduct forms of harassment.
When developing an anti-harassment policy is important to focus on overall company objectives and applicable regulatory requirements to achieve a safe workplace.
These objectives should encompass the following aspects, as applicable:
Note: Legitimate and reasonable management actions and business processes, such as actions taken to transfer, demote, discipline, redeploy, retrench or dismiss a worker should not be considered workplace harassment breaches, provided these actions are conducted reasonably and within the scope of health and safety and equal opportunity regulations.
There are several Government support services available that can increase support, assistance and protection capabilities Some of the resources available include:
Organisation | Website | Contact Details |
Mission Australia | www.missionaustralia.com.au | 1800 88 88 68 |
Australian Women Against Violence | www.awava.org.au | 1800 937 638 |
Relationships Australia | www.relationships.org.au | 1300 364 277 |
1800RESPECT | www.1800respect.org.au | 1800 737 372 |
White Ribbon Australia | www.whiteribbon.org.au | (08) 6370 0600 |
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare | www.aihw.gov.au | (02) 6244 1000 |
Lifeline | www.lifeline.org.au | 13 11 14 |
Department of Health and Human Rights Commission Services | www.dhhs.vic.gov.au | 1300 650 172 |
Safe Steps | www.safesteps.org.au | 1800 015 188 |
Reach Out | www.au.reachout.com | Refer to website |
Orange Door | www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au | Refer to website |
Domestic Violence Resource Centre | www.dvrcv.org.au | (03) 8346 5200 |
Aboriginal Women’s Service | www.emhaws.org.au | (03) 9403 9400 |
InTouch | www.intouch.org.au | 1800 755 988 |
Djirra | www.djirra.org.au | 1800 105 303 |
No to Violence | www.ntv.org.au | 1300 766 491 |
Beacon | www.beacon.anu.edu.au | Visit website |
Beyond Blue | www.beyondblue.org.au | 1300 224 636 |
RUOK | www.ruok.org.au | Refer to website |
Standby | www.standbysupport.com.au | Refer to website |
Suicide Call Back | www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au | 1300 659 467 |
SuperFriend | www.superfriend.com.au | Refer to website |
Workplace Equality and Respect | www.workplace.ourwatch.org.au | Refer to website |