EEO, Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment & Bullying

There are bound to be occasional differences of opinion, conflicts and problems in working relationships. These are part of working life.

Discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying of anyone in our workplaces including Officers, employees, contractors, volunteers, customers or visitors is unacceptable and against our Code of Conduct.

Any form of behaviour that may constitute discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or bullying will not be tolerated. In addition, condoning, ignoring or passively accepting these inappropriate behaviours of others is also unacceptable.

Managers and supervisors have a leadership role and their behaviour must provide a model of the standards required by TSA. They must also ensure that their team members are aware of these standards, that harassment, sexual harassment or discrimination will not be tolerated and that complaints will be treated seriously.

Bullying is repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.

Harassment is any form of behaviour that is not wanted, not asked for, not returned and that is likely to create a hostile or uncomfortable work environment by offending, humiliating or intimidating a person for reasons which may include personal differences or characteristics.

Harassment is any form of behaviour which treats another person less favourably because of a protected attribute (real or perceived) that the other person has and can be physically touching another person, jokes, deliberately isolating a person.

Sexual harassment is an unwelcome sexual advance, unwelcome request for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated, where a reasonable person would anticipate that reaction in the circumstances.

Examples of sexually harassing behaviour include:

• unwelcome touching;
• staring or leering;
• suggestive comments or jokes;
• sexually explicit pictures or posters;
• unwanted invitations to go out on dates;
• requests for sex;
• intrusive questions about a person's private life or body;
• unnecessary familiarity, such as deliberately brushing up against a person;
• insults or taunts based on sex;
• sexually explicit physical contact; and
• sexually explicit emails or SMS text messages.

Further information can be found in the Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Harassment and Bullying Procedure and by contacting your Corps Officer/Line Manager.