New Zealand is considered one of the safest countries in the world, but a recent report tells a different story of a very unsafe workplace culture in NZ. Harassment and bullying are rife in Kiwi workplaces, the Human Rights Commission has found.
According to the report, based on a survey conducted from 19th May to 29th June this year with over 2,500 workers across Aotearoa, sexual harassment, racial abuse, and bullying are prevalent in workplaces.
It found that 30 percent of workers experienced sexual harassment in the past five years, 39 percent experienced racial harassment in the past five years, and 20 percent frequently experienced bullying in the past 12 months.
When broken down further, the data revealed that young females, bisexual, and disabled workers were especially likely to have experienced sexual harassment. Racial harassment was most prevalent among minority ethnicities, disabled workers, and migrant workers. Over half of Maori (52pc), Pacific (62pc), Asian (62pc), disabled (61pc), and recent migrant (61pc) workers have been racially harassed.
These findings have been published in the report “Experiences of Workplace Bullying and Harassment in Aotearoa New Zealand” by the Human Rights Commission and can be found at https://www.hrc.co.nz/new-research-shows-high-prevalence-workplace-bullying-and-harassment/
Indian Weekender spoke to Saunoamaali’i Karanina Sumeo, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at the NZ Human Rights Commission, on her thoughts about the reports, the need of the hour and more.
What was your reaction when you got to know about the somewhat surprising findings of the report?
I was very disappointed and surprised. We thought we were doing much better. I felt disgusted. But the fact is this report has given us a realistic picture of where we stand regarding workplace harassment and bullying. And now, we need to work strategically on tackling these issues, especially racial harassment. We now have the diagnosis of the problem; and need to work on treatment. This is a wake-up call for us. If we do not take immediate steps, the global image of New Zealand is at stake.
Do you think the recent allegation of ‘bullying’ by MP Gaurav Sharma somehow reflects the findings of this report?
All I can say is we know bullying does happen in Parliament. It is serious. No one is clean. And unfortunately, especially in a workspace with an extended hierarchy, bullying happens more often as there are more chances of abuse of power.
What should be the way for an employee who is being bullied or harassed to report it without the fear of consequences? The report suggests that the formal pathways for addressing harassment and bullying were uncommon and often ineffective when accessed.
We need to develop a safe workplace culture, and people who are bullied or harassed do not fear coming out. I believe there should be an independent equitable body that is free for all and where a person can lodge their complaint.
We also need better laws in place to ensure that every business is held accountable in the event of harassment and bullying. At the moment, all the onus is on the person who is harassed or bullied to prove themselves.
We must review our Accident Compensation and Health and Safety at Work laws. For instance, ACC only covers physical injury, but what about emotional and mental issues that one is subjected to due to harassment and bullying?
What will be your plan of action to deal with the situation?
We are failing our people, and we all need to ensure the situation improves. I will continue to raise public awareness about the widespread menace of harassment and bullying across our workplaces. It is simply not acceptable.
Moving forward, I will engage with relevant members of Parliament, particularly Priyanca Radhakrishnan, the Associate Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety.
I will also engage with business associations and their networks to raise awareness and ensure we have safe and healthy workplace culture across Aotearoa New Zealand.
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