Government consulting on bullying and harassment at work

Written submissions are invited from workers, businesses and other interested groups on the systems that prevent and respond to bullying and harassment at work, including sexual harassment.

The deadline to make a submission is 31 March 2021.

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is asking for feedback from any person or group who is familiar with or has experience or knowledge of systems that prevent or respond to bullying and harassment at work. This includes how effective policies and systems are, what areas are and are not working well, and what opportunities there are for improvement. MBIE states the feedback will be used to guide future policies and changes to health and safety and employment relations systems to address bullying and harassment at work. 

MBIE has written an issues paper. It outlines current information about the nature and extent of bullying and harassment at work, how effective the current systems are that prevent and respond to these issues, and what good practice looks like.

There are three different ways to provide feedback:

• Fill in a short online survey on bullying and harassment at work
• Review the full 'Bullying and harassment at work - Issues paper: An in depth look' and fill in the submission template
• Review a summary of the 'Bullying and harassment at work' issues paper and fill in a shorter submission template

You can email questions to HSWregs@mbie.govt.nz

For more information, see the MBIE Bullying and harassment at work consultation.

Related inquiries and reports

Following the global #metoo movement, advocates, individuals and media have brought to light ongoing and serious issues with sexual harassment and sexual assault in New Zealand workplaces. Calls for action have resulted in a number of inquiries investigating government agencies and private organisations. See our related articles at the bottom of this page for more information.

Related news

A group called Stop Sexual Harassment on Campus (SSHOC) has formed. The group is made up of academics, students and staff who are committed to establishing better procedures for dealing with and preventing sexual harassment and gender-based violence in Aotearoa New Zealand Universities.