MBIE starts collecting data on workplace harassment

Monday, 2 July 2018

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue says collation of the data is a step in the right directions.

The Government has begun collecting data on sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has set up a centralised register on allegations of workplace sexual misconduct, under direction of Women's Minister Julie Anne Genter.

Data will be collected from calls made to Mbie or mediation services. Information gathered will be confidential and personal identifying features will be removed from the incident reports.

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Jackie Blue said the move was a step in the right direction, but she recommended a working group like Worksafe NZ take a further step by recording the name of the perpetrator and employer.

Blue said historically many cases went unreported, but the force of the Me Too movement could encourage more people to report incidents of sexual harassment.

* Government to start tracking sexual misconduct in the workplace

* Alison Mau's #metoonz project

In the past three and a half years the Human Rights Commission has received 215 complaints of sexual harassment — 84 per cent from women.

'This will be a warning shock for businesses to get organised and have policies and trainings in place to deal and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace,' Blue said.

'We know there are serial perpetrators that may leave a company but continue misconduct, so it's important to also have a register that keeps track of these people and their movement.'

Currently, people who experience workplace sexual harassment can lodge a complaint with Mbie or the Human Rights Commission.

Both of these avenues use mediation as a first option, with legal action taken in either the Employment Relations Authority or the Human Rights Review Tribunal if this fails.

In the past three and a half years, the Human Rights Commission has received 215 complaints of sexual harassment — 84 per cent from women.

Blue said historically many cases went unreported, but the force of the Me Too movement in recent months could encourage more people to report incidents of sexual harassment.

'Mbie receives about 70 calls a year. We know many are going unreported because they fear retaliation or feel saying something might hurt affecting their reputation or a promotion. No one wins in that situation.

'But we are seeing more people talking openly about their case. Unrestricted reporting is growing and people want their cases to be investigated,' Blue said.

She said there had to be more education about what sexual harassment was and how people could report their cases.

HOW TO GET HELP

If you've been sexually harassed at work, you can complain to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (0800 20 90 20) or the Human Rights Commission (0800 496 877). Mbie grievances must be lodged within 90 days of the harassment.

HRC complaints must be within 12 months.