Respect@Work: The Game-Changer for Employers in Australia
Australia’s Respect@Work legislation has reshaped the way employers must approach sexual harassment and workplace culture. The days of reactive, box-ticking compliance are over.
Under changes to the Sex Discrimination Act and the Fair Work Act, employers are now subject to a positive duty to prevent sexual harassment, hostile work environments, and related conduct. This means you must:
- Identify risk factors in your workplace
- Implement preventative systems and training
- Support reporting and early intervention
- Review and improve your culture and practices
This applies to every industry and workforce—including trades, construction, transport, manufacturing, warehousing, and other blue-collar sectors.
Online Training Alone Doesn’t Cut It
Many organisations rush to roll out online modules or eLearning content as a shortcut to compliance. But for blue-collar, on-site or shift-based teams, this approach is often ineffective.
Why it fails
- Low engagement: Workers click through without absorbing content
- Lack of relevance: Training examples don’t reflect real environments
- Minimal behavioural impact: There’s no opportunity for discussion, reflection, or manager reinforcement
- Fails legal threshold: Regulators expect proof of effective prevention—not just a training record
What Effective Respect@Work Training Looks Like
At ER Focus, we’ve worked with frontline and industrial teams for over two decades. We know that what works in a boardroom doesn’t necessarily translate to a depot, factory, or job site.
Our training is:
- Realistic and tailored to your industry
- Delivered face-to-face or interactively—not just online
- Designed to build awareness, respect, and culture change
- Backed by expertise in both HR and Employment Relations
- We speak the language your team understands and deliver real learning outcomes.
We’re Not Just Trainers—We’re Experienced ER and HR Professionals
At ER Focus, we’re more than facilitators—we are employment relations specialists and former HR leaders who’ve worked across:
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Health and aged care
- Government and not-for-profit sectors
- Retail and logistics
We understand how to navigate the legal framework and the cultural challenges.
If legal advice is required, we also partner with trusted employment lawyers—but our focus is always pragmatic, cost-effective support first.
Keynote Presentations & Conference Speaking
Need an expert voice on Respect@Work, workplace investigations, or psychological safety?
We also deliver conference keynotes and training sessions for:
- Industry events
- WHS forums
- Executive retreats
- HR leadership roundtables
Topics include:
- Respect@Work and the positive duty
- Preventing sexual harassment in blue-collar settings
- Bystander intervention
- ER risk mitigation and legal compliance
- Psychological safety and leadership accountability
Free Resource: Respect@Work Employer Checklist
Not sure where to start? Download our one-page Respect@Work Employer Checklist for a quick audit of your current practices:
Respect At Work_Employer_Checklist
Need Help? We offer:
- Respect@Work training tailored for your workforce
- Supervisor coaching and intervention support
- Workplace investigations and policy reviews
- Conference speaking and training facilitation
- Ongoing HR/ER advisory
Call or text David Haydon on mob. 0409400118 for a confidential discussion
Disclaimer
This article is general in nature and is not a substitute for legal advice. Employers should seek tailored guidance for their specific circumstances. ER Focus is not a law firm but works closely with legal professionals as needed.