We provide a comprehensive solution to the significant new compliance regime with very little or no disruption to your business operations.
Who are we?
Positive Duty is a support service designed to assist you to meet compliance obligations under the Sex Discrimination Act which requires you to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in your workplace.
We provide a range of services that provide your business with a clear framework that addresses the key areas defined by the Australian Human Rights Commission in response to the Anti-Discrimination and Humans Rights Legislation (Respect@Work) Act. The tools we provide are easy-to-follow and implement with little or no disruption to your business operations.
Here is a breakdown of our services, why they’re an important part of compliance with current legislation and how we can seamlessly integrate them into your unique business model.
POLICY
Why is a formal policy needed?
Creating a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace is essential for any business. A comprehensive and formal Prevention of Sexual Harassment Plan and Policy is a cornerstone in achieving this. Such a policy clearly outlines the standards of respectful behaviour, the definitions of unlawful conduct and the consequences of violating these standards.
Positive Duty’s Policy Services
We provide a formal Prevention of Sexual Harassment Plan and Policy for your workplace. This is one of the first services we deliver, because it is one of the most important and effective. Our policies are written in plain English to ensure clarity and understanding across your organisation.
Why Hire Positive Duty to create your policies?
While it might be tempting to create a policy in-house, there are several reasons to hire a specialist team:
- Expertise and Experience: The Positive Duty team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing policies that are not only comprehensive but also effective in preventing sexual harassment.
- Tailored Solutions: We customise policies to suit the specific needs and circumstances of your workplace, ensuring it is practical and applicable.
- Legal Compliance: Ensuring compliance with the latest legal standards and guidelines can be complex. We ensure that your policy meets all legal requirements, reducing the risk of non-compliance.
By engaging Positive Duty to develop and implement your comprehensive sexual harassment policy, you ensure a safer and more respectful workplace, fostering a culture of dignity and inclusion.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Why is risk assessment needed?
All businesses, regardless of size, face the potential for unlawful conduct, including sexual harassment, impacting their workplace. This conduct poses significant risks to the psychological and physical health and safety of workers, as well as violating rights to equality and dignity. Risk management is essential to identifying and mitigating these risks.
Positive Duty’s Risk Assessment Services
We offer comprehensive risk assessments to help your business meet your positive duty requirements. This service includes:
- Annual Risk Assessment: We’ll conduct an annual evaluation of your business’s ability to meet its positive duty requirements, ensuring ongoing compliance and addressing any emerging risks.
- Workplace Sexual Harassment Risk Assessment: We perform a detailed risk assessment specifically targeting sexual harassment in your workplace. This assessment includes an employee survey to determine whether sexual harassment has been experienced or observed.
Why Hire Positive Duty for Risk Assessment?
- Expertise: We brings specialised knowledge and experience in identifying and managing risks related to sexual harassment and unlawful conduct.
- Objectivity: An external assessment ensures an unbiased evaluation, helping to identify risks that may be overlooked internally.
- Compliance: Our assessments help ensure that your business meets legal requirements under the positive duty laws, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties.
- Continuous Improvement: Regular assessments help maintain a safe and respectful workplace, fostering a positive culture and reducing incidents of unlawful conduct.
By engaging Positive Duty for your risk assessment needs, you ensure that your business is proactive in identifying and addressing risks, fostering a safer and more inclusive workplace environment.
TRAINING
Why is training needed?
Effective training is essential for creating a respectful and safe workplace. It ensures that all members of your workforce understand their rights, responsibilities and the behaviours expected of them under the Positive Duty legislation. Traditional one-off training sessions are not enough; training must be ongoing, accessible and connected to your organisation’s values to truly be effective.
Positive Duty’s Training Services
We offers comprehensive training services to help businesses meet their positive duty requirements, including:
- Annual Training for Line Managers: We provide annual training for line managers on their statutory obligations under the positive duty legislation. This training ensures that managers understand their roles and responsibilities in creating a safe and respectful workplace.
- Ongoing Learning Opportunities: Our training programs include ongoing learning opportunities that are reinforced over time. This approach helps to deepen understanding and ensure that key concepts are regularly revisited and reinforced.
Why Hire Positive Duty for your Training?
- Expertise: We bring specialised knowledge and experience in delivering effective training programs that comply with positive duty legislation.
- Custom Solutions: We tailor training programs to meet the unique needs of your business and workforce, ensuring that training is relevant and impactful.
- Commitment to Quality: We focus on the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of training, providing ongoing opportunities for learning and development.
- Legal Compliance: Our training services help ensure that your business meets legal requirements, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties.
By engaging Positive Duty for your training needs, you ensure that your workforce is well-equipped to foster a respectful and inclusive workplace, ultimately contributing to a positive organisational culture and compliance with positive duty requirements.
CONTROL MEASURES
Why are control measures needed?
Control measures are targeted measures to eliminate, reduce and/or control risks around relevant unlawful conduct. They help businesses stay on track to achieve positive duty compliance by addressing and mitigating risks associated with unlawful conduct. Effective control measures ensure that all employees, regardless of their position, can work in a safe and respectful environment.
Positive Duty’s Control Measures Services
We offers comprehensive services to help businesses implement effective control measures:
- Creation of Control Measures: We create control measures that enable your business to stay on track with positive duty compliance. These measures are designed to address specific risks identified in your workplace, ensuring a tailored and effective approach.
Why Hire Positive Duty for Control Measures?
- Expertise in Compliance: Our expertise ensures that the control measures implemented are effective and compliant with legislation.
- Tailored Solutions: We provide tailored solutions that address the specific risks identified in your workplace, ensuring that measures are appropriate and effective.
- Ongoing Support: We offer ongoing support to monitor and update control measures as necessary, helping your business maintain compliance and a safe working environment.
By engaging Positive Duty for control measures, you can ensure that your business is well-equipped to prevent and respond to unlawful conduct, fostering a safe and respectful workplace environment.
HELP DESK
Why is a help desk needed?
It’s essential that managers and leaders can access support and act promptly when they have a query around sexual harassment and workplace safety. A help desk will support your managers and assist them and your business in addressing any concerns in a timely and professional manner.
Positive Duty’s Help Desk Services
- Accessible Help Desk: Our help desk operates during standard business hours, offering a convenient channel for line managers to seek assistance.
- Confidential Email Support: For sexual harassment-related inquiries, we provide a dedicated email address to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
Why Hire Positive Duty for Your Help Desk Support?
- Specialised Knowledge: Our staff are trained professionals with expertise in positive duty legislation and sexual harassment matters, ensuring that line managers receive accurate and relevant guidance.
- Efficiency and Convenience: Outsourcing helpline services to us saves you time and resources that would otherwise be spent on developing and maintaining an in-house support system.
- Confidentiality and Sensitivity: We prioritise confidentiality and sensitivity in handling inquiries, providing a safe space for line managers to seek assistance without fear of judgement or repercussions.
By outsourcing helpline services to Positive Duty, you can ensure your line managers receive timely, expert support in navigating complex workplace issues, ultimately promoting a safer and more respectful work environment.
COMPLAINT PORTAL
Why is a complaint portal needed?
A complaints portal serves as a vital channel for employees needing assistance with harassment complaints. It provides a confidential and structured platform for individuals to voice their concerns regarding sexual harassment or any other workplace misconduct. Having a designated portal ensures that employees feel empowered to report incidents without fear of retaliation and enables organisations to address issues promptly and effectively.
Positive Duty’s Complaints Portal Services
- Employee Assistance Desk: We operate a help desk during standard business hours, providing your employees with a reliable channel to report harassment complaints and seek guidance.
- Email Support for Sexual Harassment Matters: We provide a specialised email address for employees to report sexual harassment incidents, ensuring confidentiality and privacy.
Why Hire Positive Duty for your Complaints Portal support?
- Expertise: Our staff are trained professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle harassment complaints sensitively and effectively, providing employees with the support they need.
- Confidential Reporting: Outsourcing the complaint portal service to us ensures that employees can report incidents confidentially, fostering trust and encouraging open communication within the workplace.
- Comprehensive Support: Our dedicated help desk offers employees a comprehensive support system, guiding them through the complaint process and providing assistance every step of the way.
By outsourcing the complaint portal service to Positive Duty, businesses demonstrate their commitment to fostering a safe and respectful work environment, where employees feel supported in addressing harassment issues promptly and effectively.
INDUCTION TRAINING
Why is induction training needed?
Induction training plays a crucial role in orienting new employees to your organisation’s culture, values and expectations, including its commitment to workplace safety and respectful behaviour. It provides an opportunity to instill key concepts related to behaviour, diversity, inclusion and the prevention of sexual harassment from the outset of employment.
Positive Duty’s Induction Services
- Tailored Training Programs: We offer customised induction training programs designed specifically to meet positive duty requirements.
- Comprehensive Content: These programs cover a wide range of topics, ensuring that new employees are well-informed about their rights, responsibilities and your commitment to equality and dignity.
- Engaging Delivery: Our training sessions are interactive and engaging, making it easy for new hires to absorb information and understand its significance.
Why hire Positive Duty for induction training?
- Expertise and Experience: We bring expertise in legislation and best practices, ensuring that induction training is comprehensive and relevant.
- Efficiency and Effectiveness: By outsourcing induction training, your business can efficiently onboard new employees while ensuring that they receive high-quality, professionally-delivered training.
- Continuous Updates: We’ll regularly update content in our training programs to reflect changes in legislation and best practices.
By integrating Positive Duty education into induction training, you demonstrate your dedication to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace environment from day one.
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Why is employee training needed?
Training is crucial in preventing and managing sexual harassment in the workplace. It equips employees with the knowledge and tools necessary to recognise, prevent and respond to inappropriate behaviour.
Positive Duty’s Employee Training Services
Our training reinforces the importance of maintaining a respectful and safe work environment, ensuring that all employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Positive Duty requirements.
- Annual Training for Employees: We provide annual training for employees that focus on steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. These are followed by question and answer sessions to ensure teachings have been understood.
Why hire Positive Duty for Employee Training?
- Expertise: We provide specialised training content developed in collaboration with the Australian Human Rights Commission, ensuring high-quality and relevant information.
- Engagement: Interactive Q&A sessions allow participants to engage with the material and clarify any doubts, fostering a deeper understanding.
- Convenience: Our structured training makes it easy for your organisation to schedule and ensure compliance without disrupting regular business operations.
ACTION PLANS
Why are action plans needed?
Action plans are essential for senior leaders to implement and actively oversee the measures necessary to eliminate sexual harassment and other unlawful conduct in the workplace. Effective action plans are an essential and practical way that your organisation can show that it is satisfying the 7 Standards of Positive Duty.
Positive Duty’s Action Plan Service
We create a tailored Action Plan to help your business achieve the 7 standards required for compliance with its positive duty. The plan includes steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace and ensures senior leaders are actively involved in its development and implementation.
Why hire Positive Duty for your action plans?
- Expert Oversight: Positive Duty ensures that senior leaders remain responsible and accountable for the elimination of unlawful conduct, supporting them with professional guidance.
- Custom Solutions: Action plans are tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of your organisation, informed by data and worker consultation.
- Continuous Improvement: Regular reviews and updates of the action plan ensure its effectiveness, aligning with best practices and legal requirements.
- Comprehensive Approach: Positive Duty’s action plans address all 7 standards, providing a thorough and structured method to meet compliance and foster a positive workplace culture.
Implementing Positive Duty’s Action Plan ensures that your business takes a proactive and structured approach to preventing sexual harassment, aligning with the 7 standards of leadership and fostering a safer workplace.
SURVEYS
Why are surveys needed?
Surveys are a critical tool for assessing workplace culture, understanding employee experiences, and identifying areas where unlawful conduct may be occurring. They provide valuable feedback on the effectiveness of policies and training programs, help gauge the overall workplace environment, and ensure that any issues are promptly addressed to foster a safe and respectful work culture.
They help to satisfy nearly all 7 of the standards of positive duty.
Positive Duty’s Survey Service
- Annual Employee Survey:
- Purpose: To gather feedback relevant to Positive Duty requirements.
- Content: Includes questions designed to assess the prevalence and perception of sexual harassment and other unlawful conduct in the workplace.
- Usage: Results are used to inform and refine action plans, policies, and training programs, ensuring they are effective and responsive to employee needs.
Why hire Positive Duty for its survey service?
- Expert Design: We craft surveys that effectively capture the necessary data to meet Positive Duty requirements, ensuring that all relevant areas are covered.
- Objective Analysis: Professional analysis of survey results provides unbiased insights into workplace culture and the effectiveness of existing measures.
- Actionable Feedback: PD helps translate survey findings into actionable steps, ensuring continuous improvement in addressing and preventing unlawful conduct.
- Compliance Assurance: Regular surveys demonstrate a proactive approach to compliance, providing documented evidence of efforts to maintain a positive and safe workplace.
By utilising Positive Duty’s annual employee surveys, your business can stay informed about workplace dynamics and continuously improve the environment to ensure compliance with Positive Duty requirements.
REPORTING
Why is reporting needed?
Effective reporting mechanisms build trust, encouraging employees to come forward with their concerns, which can help prevent unlawful conduct from occurring in the first place. Consistent and timely responses to reports ensure that issues are addressed promptly, minimising harm and victimisation of those involved.
Positive Duty’s Reporting Service
- Third Party Certification of Positive Duty Training:
- Purpose: To ensure that the Positive Duty training delivered to your workforce meets all statutory requirements.
- Scope: Certification covers the training programs provided to employees and supervisors, verifying that they have been effectively trained in preventing and responding to sexual harassment and other forms of unlawful conduct.
- Benefits: Provides an external validation of your organisation’s commitment to compliance and creates a documented record of the training efforts.
Why hire Positive Duty for reporting?
- Expertise: We bring specialised knowledge in developing and implementing compliant reporting and response processes, ensuring they meet the latest legal standards.
- Trust Building: Utilising a third party for certification adds credibility to your training programs, enhancing employee trust in the reporting mechanisms.
- Consistency and Timeliness: We ensure that all reports of unlawful conduct are handled consistently and promptly, minimising harm and ensuring fair outcomes.
- Comprehensive Solutions: We provide continuous support and advice on improving your reporting and response processes, ensuring they remain effective and up-to-date.
Setting up effective processes for reporting and responding to unlawful conduct is crucial for demonstrating that such behaviour is not acceptable within your organisation.
DATA COLLECTION
Why is data collection needed?
Collecting data relevant to sexual harassment and workplace safety is essential for understanding the full scope of these issues within an organisation. It allows businesses to pinpoint specific areas of concern, identify patterns of misconduct and gauge the effectiveness of current policies and training programs.
Positive Duty’s Data Collection Services?
- Data Collection: We collect data relevant to the statutory Positive Duty requirements to understand the nature and extent of relevant unlawful conduct within your workforce.
- Data Analysis: The collected data is analysed to assess and improve work culture, and to develop targeted measures for preventing and responding to sexual harassment.
- Transparency: We ensure that the data on reported behaviours and actions taken is communicated transparently with you and your organisation.
Why hire Positive Duty instead of collecting your own data?
- Expertise: We ensure that data collection and analysis processes are handled by experts who understand legal requirements and best practices for managing sensitive information.
- Accuracy: Our professional approach guarantees you’re provided with accurate insights that might be missed with a DIY approach.
Data collection is a critical component in fostering a transparent and accountable workplace culture. By enlisting Positive Duty to work with you on your data collection, you’re laying a foundation for informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
To find out more about our services, and how our experienced team can help you reduce vicarious liability risks and protect your business today Contact Us.
