Everyone deserves to
feel respected at work
Workplace sexual harassment is prevalent and pervasive: it occurs in every industry, in every location and at every level, in Australian workplaces (National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces).
At Downer we think this is unacceptable and have responded to the Federal Government’s legislative reform which requires employers to take ‘reasonable and proportionate measures’ to eliminate unlawful sexual discrimination, including sexual harassment.
You can access our Sexual Harassment Prevention Plan here.
Below you’ll find links to more information, the reporting process, support and resources in the event you experience or see sexual harassment at work.
CEO statement
Downer Group CEO, Peter Tompkins: “I believe that one of the most important foundations of a thriving, high performance workplace is a culture where people feel safe and supported. Driving that culture will be a strong focus of mine as CEO.
Our annual Employee Engagement Survey results provide valuable insights into our workplace culture. Recent survey results indicate that our people generally feel valued and supported at work and that we prioritise employee health and wellbeing. However, there are areas where we must do better.”
Creating positive change
Downer has initiated a Community of Practice (COP) called “Own Respect” made up of senior representatives from Industrial Relations, Zero Harm, Human Resources and Operations, who are working through a holistic strategy to meet our compliance obligations, adopt more broadly the recommendations made by the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Respect@Work Report (in so far as they have direct or indirect relevance to the workplace) and to create an environment where sexual harassment and sex based harassment is actively prevented, and where employees feel safe to raise complaints and have those complaints dealt to in an appropriate way.
Downer’s Standard
Downer has released its Standard for the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and is an important part of The Downer Standard going forward. The Standard provides everyone with the information they need to confidently understand what sexual harassment is, what their obligations are and what to do when they encounter workplace sexual harassment. Click here to access a copy of the Standard.
Reporting an incident
Sadly, many incidents of sexual harassment go unreported. This is because people don’t want their report to be perceived as an ‘overreaction’. Others feel it is just ‘easier’ to keep quiet and not voice their concern or that they will suffer some sort of negative consequence by raising a complaint.
At Downer we believe that each person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. You have a right to work in a place that is free from harassment or any other unacceptable form of behaviour.
Downer’s Sexual Harassment Standard sets out how we deal with reports of sexual harassment and how we protect our people.
You can report sexual harassment by:
- Talking to your manager
- Talking to your local People & Culture representative
- Making a complaint via the Our Voice Service
You can make a report in writing or verbally, and the report can relate to something you have experienced or something you know about. Every report will be taken seriously and you will be supported through any investigation.
Make a report
More information
About sexual harassment
- Respect@Work
- Australian Human Rights Commission
- Fair Work Commission
- Fair Work Ombudsman
- State and Territory WHS regulators
Links to support
Downer’s Employee Assistance Programme
- Australian Employees: 1300 687 327
- New Zealand Employees www.eapservices.co.nz 0800 327 669
Our Voice Service
- Free call from within Australia: 1800 448 041
- Free call from within New Zealand: 0800 404 509
- 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 (AU only)
- Lifeline 13 11 14 (AU only)
- Beyond Blue Support Service 1300 22 4636 (AU only)
- Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand +64 9623 4810 (NZ only)
If anyone in your workplace is in immediate danger, call the Police on 000 (in Australia) or 111 (in New Zealand).
