ahs hospitality Commits to Workplace Safety and Prevention of Sexual Harassment
At ahs hospitality, the safety and well-being of our people come first. As part of our ongoing commitment to building respectful, inclusive, and harassment-free environments across Australia and New Zealand, we are proud to share our strengthened Sexual Harassment Prevention Plan.
This initiative is about more than compliance, it’s about culture. We want every employee to feel safe, supported, and empowered, no matter where they work. That means taking proactive, meaningful steps to identify risk, educate teams, and foster environments built on trust and mutual respect.
Why It Matters?
Sexual harassment is unlawful and unacceptable under any circumstances. It refers to unreasonable, uninvited, or unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that makes someone feel offended, humiliated, or threatened. Importantly, it does not need to be directed at a specific individual or intended to cause harm to be considered harassment.
Sexual harassment can occur between any individuals, regardless of gender, and can take place both in and outside the workplace, including on-site, online, or at work-related events.
We understand that power imbalances and fear of retaliation can make it difficult for individuals to speak up. That’s why we’re building a workplace culture where reporting is safe, respected, and supported—and where prevention is a shared responsibility.
What We’ve Reviewed
To strengthen our prevention plan, we began by thoroughly reviewing our existing policies, training, and risk controls to ensure alignment with current laws and best practices. Through internal consultations and risk assessments, we confirmed strong foundational practices already in place, including:
- A comprehensive Respect at Work policy
- Equal Employment & Anti-Discrimination policy
- Anti-Bullying & Victimisation policy
- Workplace Mental Health policy
- Health & Safety Commitments Statement
- Behaviour in the Workplace training
- Anonymous reporting hotline
- Regular site risk assessments and inspections
What We Found
While these existing measures provide a solid framework, our review also identified additional areas of concern where we can do more:
- Isolated or confined workspaces
- Power disparities within the workplace
- Vulnerable workers, including visa holders and those with language barriers
- Client and guest behaviour toward employees
- Use of personal devices for work communication
- Limited knowledge of local laws among some team members
What We’re Doing Next
In response, we’ve developed a targeted action plan to strengthen protections and reinforce our culture of safety and respect. Key initiatives include:
- Site Reviews
- We are training Managers to conduct structured sexual harassment risk assessments (June 2025)
- Workplace Enhancements – Reviewing isolated workspaces and improving safety measures such as lighting (June 2025)
- Incident Analysis – Conducting quarterly reviews of past misconduct to identify patterns and environment at risk (Quarterly)
- Expanded Training – Enhancing onboarding programs for new workers (Date TBC)
- Feedback Mechanisms – Introduction of pulse surveys to assess site culture and capture real-time insights. (June 2025)
- Social Media Policy Review – Updating policies and training employees on appropriate digital conduct (March 2025)
This plan is not a one-time effort. We will review it annually, making updates as needed in line with legislation, and assess progress quarterly. Our teams will stay informed through internal communications, training sessions, and town halls.
Our Ongoing Commitment
At ahs hospitality, sexual harassment is not tolerated. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, included, and safe. By strengthening our prevention strategy, we’re creating an environment where all team members can feel confident, protected, and proud to be part of ahs hospitality. Because when our people feel protected and empowered, we all thrive.
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