Harassment is unwelcome conduct that humiliates, offends or intimidates people. It's not only harmful to the victim, but also to the success of your business by lowering productivity and increasing staff turnover.
Under Australian anti-discrimination law, an employer may be legally responsible for discrimination and harassment in the workplace. To minimise the risk of legal action as a result of this, employers can actively implement anti-discrimination policies and ensure staff are aware of the consequences.
As well as discrimination, bullying is a form of workplace harassment that employers must address. Bullying behaviour includes:
- unfair and excessive criticism
- publicly insulting victims
- constantly changing or setting unrealistic work targets
- undervaluing employees' efforts at work.
As an employer, you should be aware of the legal risks associated with harassment and bullying and the steps that can be taken to minimise your potential liability.
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