More than one-third of Australia’s largest organisations have no plans to implement awareness, training, reporting pathways or onboarding programs pertaining to sexual harassment in 2024.
This significant finding comes from The Future of Work: Insights for Australian Business, launched by workplace legal and HR advisers Citation Group.
The comprehensive study surveyed 300 senior workplace decision-makers across the nation, providing insights into the challenges and priorities shaping Australian workplaces in the year ahead.
It’s clear that workplace sexual harassment policies are lagging behind, especially given the risk to staff and the reputation, legal and productivity risk to organisations. Although there’s a highly reported understanding of workplace sexual harassment laws, only 60 per cent of organisations have implemented clear policies on the matter.’
“Our research provides critical insights for Australian businesses at a pivotal moment when the government has come out with multiple new legislative changes to Australian work life,” says Campbell Fisher, Citation Group’s Managing Director and Solicitor.
“Understanding these key concerns and trends is essential for leaders looking to foster resilient, compliant, and forward-thinking workplaces. Citation Group is dedicated to guiding our clients through these challenges with strategic and actionable solutions.”
Adding to this awareness gap, the survey shows that almost half of senior manager respondents (47 per cent) were not aware of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act, and two-thirds (65 per cent) were not aware of Closing Loopholes – amendments that strengthen protection for employees who have been, or are being, subjected to family and domestic violence from discrimination in the workplace.
A third (34 per cent) of the senior managers replied, ‘I am not aware of either of these,’ suggesting a requirement for education and proactive adaptation among senior managers.
Lack of awareness of these key pieces of legislation is most stark in the largest organisations — those over 5,001 employees — in which more than half (54 per cent) of senior managers said they were not aware of either of these new laws.
Other findings from the report saw employee retention topping priority lists, with 58 per cent of surveyed workplaces planning to increase headcount. Employee retention was seen as the greatest concern among 51 per cent of Australian senior managers, highlighting the challenge organisations face in maintaining their workforce amid a competitive job market.
“It is clear Australian business leaders also need to take significant steps to stay on top of new legislation to ensure their businesses attract and retain the best talent,” says Fisher.
The report also reveals a significant shift towards flexible and hybrid work models, as these arrangements are favoured over traditional remuneration packages.