What is Workplace Harassment?

1. Queensland Rail is committed to providing all staff with a healthy, safe, discrimination free work environment.

2. Workplace Harassment occurs when unwelcome behaviour is directed towards another person on the basis of one of the 13 attributes identified in the Anti-Discrimination Act.
It is harassment when:

(a) The behaviour is intended to offend, humiliate or intimidate the person
or
(b) Where a reasonable person would have anticipated the possibility of offence, humiliation or intimidation.

Note click here for a list of the 13 attributes under the Anti-Discrimination Act.

3. Under the Anti-Discrimination Act, any harassment is against the law.

Queensland Rail also finds all types of workplace harassment unacceptable.

4. Some examples of Workplace Harassment include:

(a) Sexual harassment such as deliberately brushing up against a person, suggestive comments about a person's physical appearance, leers, stares, smutty jokes, pornographic posters stuck on workplace walls, etc.
(b) Disability harassment such as name-calling jokes about the person's disability, picking on staff because they are on light duties, because of their disability, etc.
(c) Racial harassment such as racist graffiti, racist jokes and taunting.
(d) Lawful sexual activity harassment: eg. Spreading rumours about someone having an affair or being gay, etc.

5. As a manager or supervisor, it is your responsibility to try and prevent workplace harassment from occurring.

6. Some options available to help prevent workplace harassment include:

(a) Making employees aware of Queensland Rail's policy against workplace harassment and what types of behaviour constitute workplace harassment (eg. the workplace Code of Practice should clearly state that workplace harassment is not acceptable).
(b) Ensure that employees are aware that serious disciplinary action will be taken if harassment occurs.
(c) Conduct awareness sessions on Workplace Harassment (contact your workplace Harassment Contact Officer, Equity Adviser or your ER office).