The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment has established a centralised register of allegations of workplace sexual misconduct. 

Data will be collected from calls made to MBIE or its Mediation Services but all personal identifying information will be removed, so that names of the parties will not be kept in the register.

Complaints about sexual harassment must be raised with the employer within 90 days if the employee wishes to bring a personal grievance in the Employment Relations Authority.  However, complaints can still be lodged with the Human Rights Commission within 12 months of the offending behaviour and damages awarded by the Human Rights Commission tend to be greater than those awarded by the Employment Relations Authority.

It pays to take advice from a professional experienced in this area as soon as possible if you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace.

Alan Knowsley

Employment Lawyer
Wellington