Last week it was reported that a Bunnings Warehouse (Bunnings) in Melbourne took the unusual step of banning customers (certain tradesmen) from its store for harassing female employees.
The employee lodged a complaint to store management that some tradesmen who were customers at the store had acted in a sexist manner toward her. In response, store management acted by banning the tradesmen from shopping at the store.
The action by Bunnings is encouraging in a number of respects:
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SD Act) provides that it is unlawful for a person to sexually harass an employee in their workplace. Employers also have the obligation under work health and safety legislation to provide and ensure a safe workplace to all employees.
As a matter of best practice, some of the ways that employers can comply with the SD Act and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace is through adopting a Code of Conduct about standards of behaviour, implementing an anti-discrimination and harassment policy, with clearly defined options for responding to complaints and rolling out regular anti-discrimination training. In terms of dealing with customers, Bunnings has shown the way with a firm approach to conduct that will not be accepted in their premises.
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