WorkSafe is encouraging all Victorian employers and workers to make it their business to stamp out workplace sexual harassment, launching the Let’s Be Very Clear campaign.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of what sexual harassment is and to educate employers on their responsibilities and encourage workers to call out unacceptable behaviour.

Employers are reminded that preventing and effectively dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace is their responsibility and that failing to protect workers is a crime.

WorkSafe health and safety executive director Julie Nielsen says the campaign was a wake-up call that this kind of behaviour can never be ok: “Let’s be very clear – a workplace where sexual harassment is tolerated is an unsafe workplace.

“Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace and we all have a role to play in calling out this unacceptable behaviour when we see it.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe at work, which is why this campaign removes any confusion around what constitutes sexual harassment in the workplace.”

The campaign will provide examples of specific behaviours that constitute sexual harassment and remove any ambiguity that could stop workers speaking out. It will target employers in industries identified as high risk, including information, media and telecommunications, healthcare and social assistance, retail, education and training and manufacturing.

There were 134 injury claims involving possible sexual harassment made to WorkSafe in the 2019/20 financial year, but the rate of sexual harassment is likely to be higher as much goes unreported.

WorkSafe sought feedback from a variety of stakeholder and industry groups to develop the Let’s Be Very Clear campaign.

Find more information on sexual harassment in the workplace at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/sexual-harassment.