Case of Sexual Harassment at The Sheriff’s Office

The case of sexual harassment at the sheriffs office is an overseas matter, and the transferable part is not the conduct. It is what surrounded it.

Cases that become serious share a shape. Concerns raised earlier and handled informally. A person whose behaviour was known and tolerated because they were valued or senior. Reporting routes that ran through the people involved. And complainants who experienced more change to their working life than the person complained about.

Every one of those is a system failure rather than an individual one, and every one is checkable in your own organisation this week.

Read published outcomes for the pattern, not for the details. The details never match your situation and the pattern almost always does.

The Australian Human Rights Commission publishes guidance for employers. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s sexual harassment course for managers and respect at work training.