2.1 Respectful workplaces
Respectful workplaces
A positive, pro-integrity culture promotes professional and respectful workplace behaviour. Diverse and inclusive workplaces build trust across different communities.
Perceptions of harassment and bullying have declined over the past decade. In 2022, 9.7% of respondents to the APS Employee Census said they were subjected to harassment or bullying in their current workplace in the past 12 months (Figure 2.1). In 2022, the most common types of harassment or bullying perceived by employees were verbal abuse, interference with work tasks (such as withholding needed information) and inappropriate and unfair application of work policies or rules.
Figure 2.1: Reported perceived rates of bullying and harassment (2012 to 2022)
Source: APS Employee Census
Perceptions of harassment and bullying for First Nations employees (16.1% compared to 21.7% in 2012) and employees with disability (18.2% compared to 31.2% in 2012) are also declining.
During 2021–22, agencies recorded 627 complaints from employees about individual types of harassment and bullying. This represents a slight increase on the number recorded in 2020–21 (615 complaints against individual types of behaviour). In 2021–22, the number of recorded complaints of sexual harassment (59) declined from the previous year (78).
The APS must maintain efforts to create an environment that supports and encourages the reporting of unacceptable behaviour. Just over one-third (34%) of all APS Employee Census respondents in 2022 who said they had been subjected to harassment or bullying went on to report the behaviour in accordance with their agency’s policies and procedures. Another 7% said it had been reported by someone else. Of the remaining 59% who did not report the behaviour they experienced, the most common reasons cited included not thinking that action would be taken, fear of possible retaliations or reprisals, and not wanting to upset workplace relationships.
The prospects for navigating complexity and achieving lasting results are far greater in environments where staff of all ages, genders and cultural backgrounds can perform well, individually and together.