Workforce Culture

• Perception that there would be no consequences, fear of repercussions, or belief that nothing would be done.

• Inappropriate behaviour was often normalised or seen as part of the workplace culture, with jokes and comments being brushed off or laughed at.

• There were concerns about reporting behaviour involving senior staff or elected members, due to the imbalance of power and the fear of being dismissed or not taken seriously.

• Instances of inappropriate behaviour were described as historical, occurring many years ago, and were often seen as part of the past workplace culture.

• Some respondents indicated that they handled the situation themselves, either by confronting the individual or choosing not to report due to various personal reasons, including feeling that it was not their place to report. 

• There were some comments about the difficulty in determining whether certain behaviours constituted harassment, especially when the victim appeared to take it lightly.

• Many instances were historical and handled personally without reporting, often due to uncertainty or perceived insignificance.

• Some dealt with the incident by challenging the behaviour / words used.

• Some struggled to define harassment, especially when the victim took it lightly or reciprocated.

• Inappropriate behaviour from clients, especially those with cognitive impairments, was often seen as manageable without further action.

• Confidence in the organisation’s response.