Preparing for AHRC oversight: Four initiatives to navigate the Respect@Work Act
As of December 12, 2023, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wields unprecedented authority to rigorously oversee compliance, publicly identify, and penalise businesses falling short in addressing and preventing workplace sexual harassment. The game-changing Respect@Work Act of 2022, through amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), Workplace Safety laws, Fair Work Act 2009, and […]
Consequences of greenwashing for Australian businesses
Greenwashing has become a growing concern for regulators and consumers in Australia, as more businesses make claims about their environmental practices and products. While these claims can help to build a company’s reputation for sustainability and ethical business practices, they can also be misleading and deceptive if not supported by evidence. The Australian Competition and […]
Greenwashing: Why Australian businesses must comply with Consumer Law
Greenwashing is a term used to describe a marketing strategy companies use to falsely represent their products or services as environmentally friendly. It is a common practice that can lead to consumer mistrust, loss of sales, and a damaged reputation for the company. Learn what greenwashing is, why it’s important for businesses to comply with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), and how to […]
Workplace sexual harassment: Risks and impacts on organisations and employees
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue that can have a profound impact on both the employees who experience it and the organisation. In Australia, the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment has been highlighted in the recent Respect@Work report, which found that one in three workers have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. […]
Respect@Work Act: New positive duty for managers in Australia
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue that affects one in four workers in Australia. To address this issue, the Respect@Work Act was introduced to impose new responsibilities on managers and employers in the country, making it mandatory for them to take steps to prevent harassment in their workplace. The Respect@Work Act The […]
Preventing sexual harassment in the workplace: Why diversity and inclusion is key
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue that affects employees, businesses and society. It is estimated that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men experience sexual harassment in the workplace in Australia. This highlights the importance of taking proactive steps to prevent harassment and creating a safe, respectful workplace for all […]
Respect@Work Act 2022: Consequences for non-compliance
The Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect@Work) Act 2022 is a new law in Australia that was passed in 2022 with the aim of addressing and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. The act is intended to create a safer and more inclusive work environment for all employees by changing the way sexual harassment is handled […]
What is and isn’t considered sexual harassment in the workplace?
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious issue that can have a detrimental effect on an individual’s mental and physical well-being, as well as their career. It is defined as any unwanted or unwelcome sexual advances, comments, gestures, or physical contact that is offensive or makes an individual feel uncomfortable. Types of sexual harassment […]
What the Respect@Work laws mean for business: Fear & Greed Podcast
The Federal Parliament recently passed the Respect at Work Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at ensuring a safe workplace for everyone, particularly by eliminating harassment. Now that the law is in effect, both companies and employees should be familiar with the changes, their rights, responsibilities, and how to abide by the law. Safetrac […]
Business Leaders: Navigating the Respect@Work Act 2022
Business leaders now have a legal responsibility to create a safe and respectful work environment for their employees, following the latest legislative updates to the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 (Respect@Work Act 2022). What was previously an organisational challenge now imposes an active duty on leaders and their people within the organisation. The Act received […]