Positive Duty: are boards ready to prevent workplace sexual harassment

Research undertaken by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) shows an overwhelming majority of directors believe preventing sexual harassment in the workplace is a high priority issue for their boards.

But most directors are concerned their boards may not be fully prepared to meet new workplace sexual harassment standards when they come into force next week. 

The new Positive Duty requiring companies to prevent sexual harassment and other hostile sex-based conduct in the workplace will be enforced by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) from December 12.

The Positive Duty requires companies to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sexual harassment, sex-based harassment, sex discrimination, hostile workplace environments and victimisation.

According to the new AICD/ACSI research, 85 per cent of ASX300 directors believe the prevention of workplace sexual harassment and other positive duty conduct is a high priority issue for their boards.

However most of the directors surveyed, including 80 per cent of women directors, don’t believe their boards are fully equipped for the new legal landscape.

AICD Managing Director and CEO Mark Rigotti: “The AICD undertook this research with ACSI to understand how prepared boards are for their obligations, and to support directors in navigating this new landscape.

“The Positive Duty presents an opportunity for employers to demonstrate their leadership and commitment to stamp out harmful conduct in the workplace, and to bring about important cultural change by fostering safe and more respectful workplaces.”

The AICD/ACSI research builds on a 2021 assessment of the state of sexual harassment reporting in Australia’s largest companies by ACSI and AHRC, which found that boards were reactive, rather than preventative, in their approach to these issues within their organisations.

The latest report finds that board practices to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and other positive duty conduct have improved since 2021, with increased momentum from Australian boardrooms to take action. 

But directors would like to see a greater effort from management to prioritise initiatives to prevent workplace sexual harassment and other positive duty conduct. These issues need to be considered proactively, not reactively, by management and the board.

ACSI CEO Louise Davidson: “Sexual harassment is a material risk that can expose companies to significant reputational risk, have financial implications, affect operations and impact a company’s social licence to operate. Long-term investors want to support the companies in which they invest to be well-run, safe for their people, and have cultures that effectively prevent and address workplace sexual harassment.

“Prevention of sexual harassment is a responsibility of the whole board not just women directors. I urge directors to educate themselves and ask questions of management on these issues.”

The AICD/ACSI report highlights examples of better practice and outlines questions boards and investors can ask to ensure implementing a system to protect and support those in the workplace remains a priority.

Other key findings:

• Only 20% of women directors believe their boards had a very adequate understanding of the nature of positive duty conduct. 39% of men directors reported the same.
• 32% of women directors and 45% of men directors strongly agreed their organisation is well prepared to meet its positive duty obligations as an employer.
• Directors believe the positive duty should be viewed as an opportunity to drive cultural change rather than a compliance exercise.
• 70% of directors said their organisation has set targets to achieve gender balance in management roles via recruitment and promotion strategies.
• Leading organisations are integrating sexual harassment and other positive duty conduct into workplace health and safety risk management frameworks.
• But there has been slow progress overall in companies treating psychosocial hazards with the same priority as physical safety concerns.
• The underreporting of sexual harassment and other positive duty conduct within organisations remains a significant concern.
• Lack of trust and confidence in organisational systems, processes and outcomes is a key barrier to reporting.

Organisations that are transparent and share information about sexual harassment and other positive duty conduct report a significant positive impact on workplace culture.

Download the media release here.

Download the report here.

Media Contact - Jane Braslin 0439 167 567