Essential workers who experience or witness sexual harassment are scared to speak up for fear of repercussions, with unions calling for further protections for people who call out unlawful behaviour.
A Unions NSW survey of more than 900 workers spanning education, transport, health, emergency services, disability and community services has revealed an entrenched culture of fear.
More than 50 per cent of workers surveyed said they had witnessed sexual or gender-based harassment at work.
More than four in five women said they had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, with men overwhelmingly responsible.
Common practices include sexually suggestive jokes and comments, as well as leering and intrusive staring, with 10 per cent of people saying they had witnessed inappropriate conduct in the past month alone.
Barriers to people intervening included a fear of retaliation, a belief that management would not take action and general uncertainty about what to do.
Unions NSW says there is an overlooked gap in existing workplace laws that means workers who step in when they see this behaviour do not have explicit legal protections.
This leaves them vulnerable to losing shifts, being sidelined from projects or excluded from decision-making.
Ethical bystanders who witness sexual harassment need explicit protection within existing Respect@Work laws, Unions NSW gender equity officer Karen Willis told AAP.
"It's a fairly easy fix, because there is currently a no-victimisation clause in the laws, but that is in relation to someone who makes a complaint, meaning that they have protections against retributions," she said.
"This needs to be expanded to include ethical bystanders."
Sexual and gender-based harassment can be as subtle as being ignored or belittled for speaking up in a meeting, to more overt displays such as unwanted touching or online or digital abuse.
"What we heard loud and clear from men is that they want to call out the bad behaviour of others but need practical tools and support to do it safely," Ms Willis said.
"It is essential workers feel confident to speak up when they witness harassment and improper behaviour in the workplace and that their job security is not at risk when doing so."
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
