Corrections chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
Corrections is apologising to its staff after a review found sexual harassment had taken place and those who had spoken up had been let down.
The department said it has fallen well short of its own standards in the way it has handled the issue.
An independent review was set up last year. It was intiially being carried out by EY, but changed to an internal independent review after the corporate consultancy firm undertook a review into bullying and sexual harassment in its own workplaces.
The Corrections review focused on how it could could strengthen its approach to preventing and responding to sexual harassment across the organisation.
The findings have been released on Tuesday and Corrections has accepted all six of its recommendations.
"We have a duty to ensure everyone feels safe and is safe at work," chief executive Jeremy Lightfoot said.
"Any form of sexual harassment is unacceptable and has no place at Corrections. To those who've experienced this behaviour within our organisation and to those who have spoken up and been let down I am incredibly sorry."
It took incredible courage for people to share their experiences about certain behaviour, said deputy chief executive Pae Ora and co-sponsor of the Independent Sexual Harassment Review Juanita Ryan.
"The behaviours outlined in the review fall well short of the standard we expect of ourselves.
"It's important we reflect on what has been said in the review and resolve to do better."
The findings
The review identified that unacceptable and unlawful behaviours had taken place.
Nineteen percent of staff took part in a survey as part of the review, and a quarter of those reported experiencing sexual harassment from another staff member at Corrections.
The review also found that staff did not consider complaints about sexual harassment were handled well and that those who experienced sexual harassment did not feel supported.
"We must do better. Corrections employs more than 10,000 staff and every one of them deserves a safe work environment. As an organisation, we must have zero tolerance for any form of sexual harassment, ensure people feel safe and supported to speak up, and ensure accountability for poor and unlawful behaviour," Lightfoot said.
The recommendations
These include developing and implementing an organisation-wide culture change programme, defining sexual harassment and how to respond to it and support those affected, and setting up effective processes for reporting and responding to unwanted and unlawful behaviour.
Corrections has accepted all six recommendations and is setting up a taskforce to implement them.
To ensure accountability on progress, Corrections will report quarterly to staff and the public on this work.
Immediate moves include:
- Ensuring consistent processes where people feel safe to report behaviour, raise concerns and speak up, and that staff are aware of these processes
- Ensuring processes are in place to investigate and address allegations of sexual harassment
- Providing education and training for staff, including further guidance for managers on how to manage disclosures of sexual harassment
Lightfoot acknowledged the review's finding might be "confronting and upsetting" for some staff. He encouraged them to seek supported from the welfare team within Corrections or the Employee Assistance Programme.
