Taking action

What you do to resolve a complaint depends on what the person complaining wants to happen and the nature of their complaint.

If it is a serious claim like assault or stalking, you need to involve the police or a lawyer.

Some complaints will need to be dealt with by your formal procedure.

Or you can take simple steps to deal with the complaint internally, including:

• stopping the offensive behaviour without making judgments
• removing anything offensive – graffiti, posters, screen savers
• discussing support options with both sides
• asking them to consider meeting to conciliate
• monitoring the situation to ensure offensive behaviour is not happening
• monitoring to ensure neither party is victimised
• letting all staff know how you expect them to behave in the workplace

Make sure that you:

• make brief notes of your actions
• keep the staff involved informed of any action you take
• maintain confidentiality.

Discuss any continuing problems with your senior management, human resource department or seek advice from the Equal Opportunity Commission.

Let staff know where else they can get help - for example, employee assistance programs, the Equal Opportunity Commission, WorkCover and SafeWork SA.