Our Watch’s Workplace Equality and Respect Standards

Our Watch has developed a set of standards to support workplaces to take action to prevent violence against women. The Workplace Equality and Respect (WER) Standards are freely available and all Australian employers are encouraged to adopt these standards in their workplaces.

The WER Standards confirm an organisation’s commitment to gender equality and provide a flexible and adaptable guide for workplaces to follow, with the aim of ensuring that all staff are held accountable for promoting a culture of gender equality and respect.

The WER Standards address the four drivers of violence against women, outlined in the national framework to end violence against women, Change the story. The WER Standards encourage workplaces to challenge gender stereotypes, promote women’s equality at all levels of the workplace and build leadership support for change. They also provide guidance to workplaces on implementing systems to respond appropriately to staff experiences of sexual harassment, family violence and other forms of violence against women. The WER Standards read:

1. We are committed to preventing violence against women and have structures, strategies and policies that explicitly promote gender equality.
2. We embed gender equality in our recruitment, remuneration and promotion processes and men and women utilise flexible work options, without penalty.
3. All staff feel safe and confident to express themselves, and gender stereotypes, roles and norms are actively challenged in the workplace. Staff can raise concerns about gender inequality and potential discrimination without adverse consequences.
4. We have the structures, practices and culture to ensure an appropriate response to staff and external stakeholders who experience violence, bullying and sexual harassment.
5. We demonstrate our commitment to gender equality and the prevention of violence against women in all our work and interactions with stakeholders.