True Story alert:

When I was working in a retail store, my manager once said:

“Victoria, please can you go and work in the stock room this afternoon as the manager on the floor has a habit of asking girls like you to go and work in his office.”

I agreed without question. I did not even think to challenge it.
Looking back, both in retail and in the military, behaviours we would now call sexual harassment were widespread. At the time, we did not recognise them for what they were. There was little awareness, no training, and limited legal protection. What strikes me now is how normalised it all felt.

What is sexual harassment?

• Unwanted conduct
• Of a sexual nature
• That has the purpose or effect of violating dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment

Points to remember

• If there is no unwanted conduct, there is no harassment
• The victim does not need to have the protected characteristic themselves
• Protection is wide – applicants, employees and workers are covered
• There is no need for the victim to object at the time
• Intent is often irrelevant – it is the effect that matters
• Organisational policies may go further than the legal minimum

Why training matters more than ever

We have stronger laws today and more public discussion. But harassment is still happening. From October 2024, employers must take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. From 2025, that will rise to all reasonable steps. Policies alone are not enough. Training is essential.

Here are five reasons why:

1. Raising awareness – helping staff recognise what harassment looks like, especially in the grey areas.
2. Understanding the law – clarifying that harassment is judged by impact, not intent.
3. Building a harassment-free workplace – equipping people with practical tools to challenge or stop unwanted conduct.
4. Sharing experiences – creating space for staff to raise self-awareness and learn from each other’s perspectives.
5. Time for reflection – giving people the opportunity to pause, think, and commit to change.

Workplace Training Support

At Impact we design training that helps staff and managers build safer, more respectful workplaces. If you are reviewing how your organisation prevents harassment, let’s talk about how we can support you to meet your new legal duties and strengthen your culture.