Anonymous reporting recommended for mining industry following inquiry into sexual misconduct on FIFO sites

Mining companies are being encouraged to use anonymous reporting programs to help remove job security fears for workers making complaints following the recent inquiry into sexual harassment in the industry. The recommendation is based on the WA parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment in the FIFO mining industry, which found the fear of “negative repercussions” from reporting incidents was “well known within the FIFO workforce” and a deterrent to reporting. The inquiry report said companies should focus on using anonymous reporting platforms, such as Crime Stoppers’ Safe2Say, which allow workers to make a complaint without being identified. The report said concerns around the reporting process was one of the largest “disconnects” between what employers and employees told the committee. It said that individuals “almost exclusively” told a negative story of using a company reporting system, with some wary of the system, some lacking confidence it would achieve anything, and some so fearful of repercussions they did not report incidents. One participants said staff were told to speak up and when they did, the company “did everything to keep us quiet”. Another said there was “no question” incidents of sexual harassment on FIFO sites was “massively underreported” because of the fear of negative backlash. One employee told the committee they had never reported sexual harassment because they did not want to cause any “issues,” felt a lack of support and thought they would be seen as a “troublemaker” on site. Crime Stoppers WA chief executive Dr Vince Hughes said some organisations did not fully understand the difference between anonymous reporting and confidential reporting, and often had confusing policies. “Our anecdotal experience shows a person is more likely to report misconduct or sexual harassment if they trust the reporting platform and the anonymity it provides,” he said. “Simply put, confidential means I know who you are, but I won’t tell anyone that doesn’t need to know. “Anonymous means I don’t know who you are, and I will respect your rights to anonymity by not trying to find out,” he said. The Crime Stoppers platform allows for two-way communication, meaning companies can request more information and provide updates without compromising the complainant’s identity.