Invest
Sexual harassment inquiry to seek answers on financial, social cost
Noting victims of workplace sexual harassment may choose to retire early, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Minister for Women have announced an inquiry into the scale and drivers of the problem.
Sexual harassment inquiry to seek answers on financial, social cost
Noting victims of workplace sexual harassment may choose to retire early, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Minister for Women have announced an inquiry into the scale and drivers of the problem.
“We already know that the personal and career consequences of workplace sexual harassment are very significant. The organisational impacts are also substantial, including reduced productivity, high staff turnover, absenteeism, compensation claims and early retirement,” Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer said this morning.
More than 20 per cent of Australians over 15 have experienced sexual harassment and 68 per cent of those have experienced it in the workplace, Ms O’Dwyer said, while announcing the government would contribute $500,000 to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) inquiry into sexual harassment in the workplace.
“Recent prominent international and national coverage has highlighted the prevalence and detrimental impact of sexual harassment on individuals and organisations. This inquiry will be a positive and meaningful step forward in reducing sexual harassment at work and ensuring that, where it does occur, it is dealt with carefully and appropriately,” Ms O’Dwyer said.
"The inquiry will draw on economic modelling so we will have a better sense of how much it is costing individual Australians as well as Australian businesses.”
The inquiry is set to run for 12 months and will cost $900,000.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said the inquiry, which follows the global #MeToo movement, will analyse the drivers behind the problem and how technology, social media and the legal framework interact with the issue.
“In making our recommendations, we will consider the changing work environment and existing good practice being undertaken by employers to prevent and respond to workplace sexual harassment,” she said.
“We need to continue working to create a society where this kind of conduct is unthinkable, and where sexual harassment at work is not something people simply have to put up with. I believe this national inquiry is a huge step in the right direction.”
Financial ramifications of workplace sexual harassment
The AHRC said it considers sexual harassment a barrier to gender equality, and put the estimated cost of violence against women and their children at $22 billion in 2015-16.
According to its latest gender equality study, one in two women have or will experience sexual harassment in their life time.
At the same time, one in two mothers reported experiencing workplace discrimination as a result of their pregnancy or parental leave upon their return to work.
One in five mothers said they were made redundant, dismissed or did not have their contract renewed upon their return to work.
It also found the average super balance for women between 60 and 64 was $157,050, 58 per cent of the average $270,710 male superannuation balance at that age.
The director of the US National Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-jen Poo, said in a piece for InStyle that the “inextricable link” between pay inequality and sexual harassment is also borne out in periods without pay after leaving work due to harassment, or the choice between working in an unsafe workplace and losing that pay.
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has also warned that “significant power disparities” in a workplace can be a risk factor for harassment. In a 2016 report, it said the economic harm of workplace harassment can “ruin an employee’s life”.
Another report, from the Gender & Society journal, found that women who have experienced workplace sexual harassment are 6.5 times more likely to switch jobs, and are also more likely to see their earnings over their young adulthood stall or decline.
At this point in their careers, most young women’s earnings will increase.
“Many working women will experience sexual harassment at some point in their careers. While some report this harassment, many leave their jobs to escape the harassing environment,” researchers Heather McLaughlin, Christopher Uggen and Amy Blackstone said.
“We find that sexual harassment increases financial stress, largely by precipitating job change, and can significantly alter women’s career attainment.”
Spending
How much are you wasting on unused subscriptions?
Australians are continuing to pay for subscriptions they are not using, costing households up to $2,000 a year, new banking figures have revealed. ...Read more
Spending
Viagogo under the microscope for ‘ripping off’ consumers
Viagogo is under investigation by Fair Trading after ticket scalpers have been accused of raking in excessive profits through the ticketing site. ...Read more
Spending
Consumer spending defies lockdown
Statewide lockdowns have not hampered consumer spending, with the latest government data showing Aussies are continuing to spend more on their credit cards. ...Read more
Spending
How a cartel is dictating how much you pay at the pump
Talks among members of the OPEC cartel and allied oil producing countries have broken down, which is leading to skyrocketing oil prices, meaning everyone pays more for petrol, a government body has re...Read more
Spending
Have you noticed the price of your mobile plan increasing?
The consumer watchdog has revealed that the three main telecommunication providers have recently raised prices, meaning millions of Australians are now paying more for mobile services. ...Read more
Spending
Victoria’s lockdowns dampen retail spending
The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria has dented national retail figures, as the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. ...Read more
Spending
It should be easier to fix your phone, Productivity Commission finds
The Productivity Commission has found that it should be easier for Australians to get their smartphone repaired and has recommended changes that include ‘super complaints’ to be reported to watchd...Read more
Spending
You can win free flights for a year, but there’s a major catch
In a bid to keep Australia’s domestic aviation afloat, Qantas is offering free flights for a year for 10 families of four who get the COVID-19 jab, even though the failed vaccine rollout means only ...Read more
The Olympic effect on property and equity investors; COVID-19 Disaster Payments and super
Listen now
Do lockdowns boost property prices? Are short-sellers levelling the playing field? Did you lodge your tax returns early?
Listen now
Will lockdowns halt the housing boom? Is the metaverse taking over? And the cons of lodging your tax returns early
Listen now
Are you being priced out of the market? Have you got the Tuesday blues? And are you ready for the upcoming super changes?
Listen now
Spending
How much are you wasting on unused subscriptions?
Australians are continuing to pay for subscriptions they are not using, costing households up to $2,000 a year, new banking figures have revealed. ...Read more
Spending
Viagogo under the microscope for ‘ripping off’ consumers
Viagogo is under investigation by Fair Trading after ticket scalpers have been accused of raking in excessive profits through the ticketing site. ...Read more
Spending
Consumer spending defies lockdown
Statewide lockdowns have not hampered consumer spending, with the latest government data showing Aussies are continuing to spend more on their credit cards. ...Read more
Spending
How a cartel is dictating how much you pay at the pump
Talks among members of the OPEC cartel and allied oil producing countries have broken down, which is leading to skyrocketing oil prices, meaning everyone pays more for petrol, a government body has re...Read more
Spending
Have you noticed the price of your mobile plan increasing?
The consumer watchdog has revealed that the three main telecommunication providers have recently raised prices, meaning millions of Australians are now paying more for mobile services. ...Read more
Spending
Victoria’s lockdowns dampen retail spending
The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria has dented national retail figures, as the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. ...Read more
Spending
It should be easier to fix your phone, Productivity Commission finds
The Productivity Commission has found that it should be easier for Australians to get their smartphone repaired and has recommended changes that include ‘super complaints’ to be reported to watchd...Read more
Spending
You can win free flights for a year, but there’s a major catch
In a bid to keep Australia’s domestic aviation afloat, Qantas is offering free flights for a year for 10 families of four who get the COVID-19 jab, even though the failed vaccine rollout means only ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
