Ensuring the safety and well-being of staff in the hospitality industry, particularly from sexual harassment, is of critical importance. The hospitality sector, with its unique work environment, often faces challenges in maintaining a respectful and safe workplace, making it essential to implement robust policies and preventive measures.
SafeWork NSW has a dedicated team, the Respect at Work Taskforce, working with various industries on this issue, responsible for educating businesses on their duties to prevent sexual harassment, developing resources to assist in manage these risks, and taking enforcement actions when necessary. They have set up a team of inspectors that are examining venues across NSW. They’ll be looking at whether you are meeting your positive duty in relation to preventing sexual harassment. Here is the link to their website Respect at work | NSW Government.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has also established guiding principles and standards for businesses to help their compliance with the concept of positive duty. If you are unsure whether you’re meeting your positive duty, this resource from the Human Rights Commission may help to put you on the right track: Steps to meet the Positive Duty Factsheet (humanrights.gov.au)
Image from the; Guidelines for Complying with the Positive Duty under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) August 2023.
The Guiding Principles are:
Be consultative – talk to your workers about what they need for a safe and respectful workplace.
Aim to achieve gender equality – where people have equal rights, rewards, opportunities and resources regardless of gender.
Think about your people and acknowledge intersectionality. Do your workers have different intersecting identities that may compound or affect their experience of discrimination and harassment? For example, is a particular individual a woman and/or gender diverse, young, from a racial minority, or do they have a disability?
Be person-centred and trauma informed – support individual choice, safety, dignity and avoid causing harm.
We're here to help
As always, our people are here to help. For more information on resources and training courses available to all members, or any other questions you are welcome to contact the WHS Team.
E: info@hii.au
T: 02 8251 9069