Harassment is not behaviour based on mutual attraction, friendship and respect. If the behaviour is consensual and welcome, it is not harassment.
Some examples of sexual harassment could include:
- Pin-ups, calendars, screen savers, emails etc of a sexual nature
- Rude gestures, innuendo or comments
- Unwelcome or offensive physical closeness or touching
- Unwelcome comments on clothing, body or physical characteristics
- Threats or promises base on sexual favours
Sexual harassment is behaviour of a sexual nature that is:
- Unwelcome and offensive
- Verbal, physical or visual
- Repeated or serious and affects someone’s employment, job performance or job satisfaction
Stop before it starts by:
- Not tolerating sexual harassment on your worksite
- Making sure your worksite has clear sexual harassment prevention policies, procedures and training for everyone
- Setting up a sexual harassment prevention network which includes contact people and a co-ordinator
- A contact person is an elected representative who acts as a support person for people who have a query or complaint about sexual harassment
- The co-ordinator is the person responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures are in place on the worksite
- Training the co-ordinator and contact people
- Encouraging workers to report any incidents of sexual harassment
If you want information about sexual harassment contact one of the following groups:
Employment Relationship Services
0800 800 863
Working Women’s Resource Centre
027 485 3471
Human Rights Commission
0800 496 877