Trades Hall Council’s "Stop Gendered Violence at Work" campaign is part of a growing worker’s movement that seeks to recognise and understand gendered violence as a workplace health and safety hazard, and stop it from injuring Victorian workers.

Gendered violence is any action or behaviour that causes physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm to a worker because of their gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or because they do not adhere to dominant gender stereotypes or socially prescribed gender roles.

Gendered violence can be anything from a “blonde” or “gay” joke in the lunch room; not being valued or respected because you are a woman or identify as LGBTQI+, right through to sexual harassment and assault.

While perceptions of OHS issues are usually confined to hardhats and manual handling, gendered violence is endemic in our workplaces and injures Victorian workers every day.

The impact of gendered violence is huge.

Over 60% of women have experienced some form of gendered violence at work, and almost one in five women have resigned from a workplace to escape gendered violence.

Like any OHS hazard, employers have a legal duty to prevent gendered violence from injuring workers and provide all workers with a healthy and safe working environment.

The campaign aims to get WorkSafe and employers to formally recognise gendered violence as a serious OHS hazard and act to prevent gendered violence from injuring workers.

Together we have launched an extensive report on gendered violence in the workplace, a campaign kit, and comprehensive gendered violence training for unions and employers.

Trades Hall launched a Stop Gendered Violence at Work model EBA clause, enabling conversations about gendered violence to become a normal part of the workplace.

In 2018 there is more work to do.  The campaign will focus on continuing to build the capacity of our unions and workers to take action to stop gendered violence at work, including supporting unions to negotiate a gendered violence clause into EBAs, and working with Worksafe to develop new materials and strategies including guidance material and training curriculum.

If you would like to get involved with the campaign visit our website to sign up and download the campaign kit and other resources.