Ethics Newsline®

SYDNEY
Nearly one-fifth of Australian workers have faced sexual harassment while on the job, according to a new national survey released last week by the government.

Nearly 30 percent of women and 7 percent of men reported being targeted by harassment, including unwelcome touching, suggestive comments, explicit email, graphic imagery, or intimidation, reported the Age.

Even more troubling, according to the country’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), is the fact that less than one-third of victims reported the harassment.

Of those who did report, most took the matter to their supervisor or boss. Only one percent lodged an official complaint with a government agency, according to poll figures cited by the Age.

“There is a large group who don’t report it because they don’t think that think it will be dealt with seriously and a lot even fear that they will sacked or disadvantaged at work,” federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Goward said the HREOC will use the poll as a prod to encourage employers to redouble their efforts to fight harassment.