One year on from #metoo, the fight against sexual misconduct is far from over

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

Women around the world are marking the first anniversary of the #metoo movement going global.

Former lawyer Olivia Wensley has spoken out about sexual harassment in the workplace since the Russell McVeagh scandal was revealed warns such misconduct is rife in New Zealand.

Sixty-eight reports of workplace sexual harassment were made to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) service centre between July 2 and September 30 - the first three months MBIE had ever collected that data specifically.

During the same period, 35 applications for mediation where sexual harassment was identified were made. Ninety one per cent of those applicants identified as female and 9 per cent as male. In total, there 17,448 calls on employment line from July until September and 1950 applications for mediation were made.

Wensley said she's pleased there is monitoring in place, but she believes the figures are just the tip of the iceberg. 

**READ MORE:

* Sexual harassment complaints double

* MBIE starts collecting data on workplace harassment

* Sexual harassment and confidentiality** agreements

'Just the fact that these figures are being recorded is important,' she said.

'I think it would be a win if we even had 10 per cent going through the [official] channels.'

MBIE said collecting the data was 'just one step towards identifying how widespread the issue may be in New Zealand workplaces'.

Any form of sexual misconduct in the workplace was unacceptable and the data could help efforts to address it, MBIE said.

A year on from the international rise of #metoo, Wensley said there still wasn't a culture in place that supports women reporting sexual harassment.

'In my own experience, very few women come forward. It's so hard to talk about. You feel powerless to make a complaint or do anything because you don't think anything is going to happen,' Wensley said.

'A lot of people are too embarrassed or ashamed to admit it. It's actually a really brave step - it's very hard for someone to do that.'

Often, victims weren't believed. Hard evidence was challenging to obtain. Sometimes victims felt as if they were responsible. Often, it was 'her word against his'.

And Wensley said it was often the victim who ended up leaving the job.

'We have to foster a culture where victims are believed, and make sure that they are protected.'​

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue expected to see the MBIE figures increase.

'People who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace often fear they will suffer repercussions in their career if they report the behaviour, particularly if the harassment is from someone in a position of power in their organisation. This is one of the reasons it is so under reported. 

'The #MeToo movement, along with heightened media reporting of sexual harassment, means that over time I would expect to see the MBIE figures increase. Knowing the extent of sexual harassment in the workplace means that adequate measures, services and support for victims can be put in place.'

Founder of the #metoo movement, Tarana Burke, has reflected on the hours and days after the campaign she'd set up a decade earlier went viral in October 2017.

She was initially concerned that when actress Alyssa Milano tweeted about #metoo, the work she had already done might be lost.

But it wasn't, and as more and more people spoke up about their own experiences, it grew and became an international powerhouse.

Milano was also in a reflective move on the anniversary of the global movement, ahead of speaking at a function hosted by The New York Women's Foundation, which announced its first round of grants from the Fund to Support the Me Too Movement and Allies in partnership with Burke.

One year ago I recorded this for my daughter, explaining why I shared my story of sexual assault. I never expected to release it publicly. Now, I feel it’s too important not to share. #MeToo

Dear Elizabella,

I love you so. I will fight so you don’t have to.

Love, mama pic.twitter.com/TYk5XXFksY

— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 15, 2018

MBIE said sexual harassment should be investigated and addressed by the employer in the first instance.

It said employees and employers should get help from the Employment Mediation Service to discuss any unresolved issues.

Employees could also make a complaint to the Human Rights Commission or Police. 

MBIE planned to report to ministers on the data periodically and monitor it for any trends.

It would 'continue to work with the Human Rights Commission and with community organisations, who assist people with making complaints of sexual harassment, to make all workplaces better, safe and fair'.