Sexual Harassment at Work

WHAT IS IT?

Sexual harassment is unwelcome or offensive sexual behaviour. It can involve the way someone speaks to you, unwanted physical contact or stalking. It can also be someone sending you unwanted messages, pictures or other images containing sexual content. The behaviour doesn’t have to be repeated to be harassment - serious one-off behaviour can be sexual harassment if it has a harmful effect on you.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS:

Never OK
Never the survivor’s fault
Not shameful to experience
Widely recognised as an issue that can happen in the workplace and needs to be fixed

SOME EXAMPLES IN THE WORKPLACE

offensive sexual remarks or jokes.
being overlooked for work opportunities or promotion if you say no to your manager’s advances
unwelcome touching, patting, or pinching by your boss, co-worker or customer
regular hassling for a date or being followed home by a co-worker sexually offensive images in the workplace, including screen savers of a sexual nature
intrusive questions about your sex life from a co-worker being excluded from teams or clubs because you turned down unwanted advances

THE EMPLOYER

Has a responsibly under the Employments Relations Act 2000 to respond to reports of sexual harassment. They have policies and legal guidance to make sure situations are

dealt with safely. They should be responsive.

UNITE UNION

Unite Union is your representative. In all cases of sexual harassment at work, there may be complexities with approaching a manager to make a report. Please contact the union at support@unite.org.nz or 0800 286 483 with your case if you are finding it hard to come forward, or if steps haven’t been taken by the employer. If you are not already a union member, join at unite.org.nz. We’re here to help.

STILL UNSURE WHY SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF THE WORKPLACE?

Any unwanted sexual behaviour toward another person is harassment, and is unlawful. The workplace is full of power imbalances. Therefore, sexual behaviour in the workplace may put people in a position where they are be forced to act in ways they do not wish, because of an implicit threat or fear. Work is a source of income, community, and self-affirmation, and we are all reliant on it. Workplaces should be respectful and professional environments, where everyone feels safe.