The Fundraising fireman’s calendar has come under scrutiny in recent weeks. Some nurses at Princes Margaret Hospital made a complaint that the Fireman Calendar displayed at work was inappropriate. What do you think? It’s basically a bunch of hunky, bare chested men in fireman outfits, no willy’s are waving so isn’t it okay? Under the law, sexual harassment is unwelcome behaviour or language, of a sexual nature and a reasonable person is or could be humiliated, offended or intimidated. If the behaviour ticks off this definition, then it is considered sexual harassment. The outcomes of the cases that have gone to the courts, in relation to scantily clad women are that the pictures are enough to be sexual harassment. If it applies to photos of women then it should apply equally to photos of men. “But it’s a fundraiser, that should make it ok, right?!” No, it makes it okay to buy it but not necessarily okay to display it in the workplace. While the calendar is at the lower end of behaviour that could be sexual harassment, it is a risk and a wise workplace would advise their staff to keep it at home.
Are Fireman in or out in the workplace?
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