The findings of the landmark Respect@Work Report in 2020 have culminated in several tranches of amendments to various laws across Australia to prevent and prohibit workplace sexual harassment, including employment, work health and safety and sex discrimination.
Organisations must now view the issue of sexual harassment through a risk lens that focuses on implementing frameworks to promote safe and respectful workplaces. From a governance perspective, the focus has shifted from how your organisation responds when incidents occur, to how your organisation is proactively taking steps to prevent sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation.
Our team of specialists will work with your organisation to review your organisation's practices to assess compliance with the evolving legal landscape to ensure your organisation's governance around sexual harassment prevention and response is fit for purpose.
We can assist with:
- Reviewing your organisation’s existing governance and compliance risk framework to assess its maturity, identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations to equip your organisation for the future of work, particularly in light of the positive duty to prevent workplace sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation
- Creation of leadership statements, Board related agendas, template Board reports and frameworks for recording and reporting instances of sexual harassment, including measuring progress over time
- Understanding your organisation’s obligations in responding to instances of sexual harassment, including at the Board level
- Implementing adequate support systems to respond to reports of sexual harassment
- Understanding how emerging concepts regarding confidentiality terms and victim-centric responses to sexual harassment complaints may be balanced against other organisational priorities
- Reviewing sexual harassment policies and processes to ensure compliance with the legislative changes
- Conducting Board, management and workforce training
Keep track of corporate governance key dates
As legislation, regulations, and guidelines continue to change, it is critical to keep up with key dates: whether it is a reporting deadline, a chance to submit views on a change, or the date an update is intended to come into effect - you won't miss a milestone with our Corporate Governance Regulatory Tracker.
