FMG has gained a leading accreditation that aims to drive social change in the prevention of violence against women.
Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue) recently completed the White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation Program that engenders a whole of organisation commitment to stop violence against women, meeting 15 criteria under three standards to create a safer and more respectful workplace. It recognises workplaces that are taking active steps to stop violence against women, accrediting them as a White Ribbon Workplace.
Australian Domestic violence facts
- Over 60% of women experiencing violence from a current partner are working
- Violence against women in the workplace impacts on the organisational climate and employees’ sense of wellbeing.
- Almost 1 in 4 women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
- 1 in 2 employees surveyed by White Ribbon considers it acceptable to tell a sexist joke in the workplace.
- Only 20% of employees surveyed by White Ribbon would feel very confident knowing how to help a work colleague experiencing violence outside work.
- 94% of employees agree employers should take a leadership role in educating their workforce about respectful relationships between men and women.
- 1 in 2 working people in the last five years have been exposed to workplace harassment, as a victim or bystander.
- 40% of workplace sexual harassment incidents were witnessed by another person.
- In 69% of cases, witnesses to workplace sexual harassment did not try to intervene.
- Perpetrators of workplace sexual harassment are overwhelmingly male.
- 1 in 5 people who were sexually harassed at work said the behaviour was common in their workplace.
Fortescue Chief Operating Officer and White Ribbon Community Partner Greg Lilleyman said, “It is an honour to be recognised as a White Ribbon Australia accredited workplace and to play our part in responding to and ending violence against women.
“As a leader in the mining industry, we have a responsibility to speak out against family and domestic violence. Driven by our culture and values, we are committed to creating a workplace where every team member is safe and to positively contributing to social change in our community.
“The accreditation process helps ensure our team members are strong advocates, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to address family and domestic violence and provide support to those experiencing it,” Mr Lilleyman said.
In a further demonstration of Fortescue’s commitment, Mr Lilleyman will today participate in a Family and Domestic Violence Collaboration Virtual Panel Event, facilitated by the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, to mark Human Rights Day and the end of the 16 Days in WA – Stop Violence Against Women campaign.
White Ribbon Australia Executive Director Brad Chilcott said, “Violence against women impacts on the health and safety of employees, their wellbeing and their productivity. It also has a negative impact on workplace culture, organisation reputation and bottom-line profit and loss.
“We urge all Australian workplaces to take the lead from Fortescue and demonstrate a culture of zero tolerance of violence against women,” Mr Chilcott said.
Benefits of the White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation Program:
• Drive social change to strengthen gender equality and stop violence against women
• Increased knowledge and skills of staff to address violence against women
• Improved workplace culture, office safety and morale
• Improved retention rates and lower staff turnover
• Becoming an employer of choice.
• Improved productivity
• Reduced absenteeism
• Improved reputation
• Risk mitigation
White Ribbon Australia is a part of a global social movement working to eliminate gendered violence, striving for an Australian society where all women and children are safe, including in the workplace.
Read more Mining Safety News
Add Comment