Sexual harassment in the workplace won’t be suffered in silence, laughed off or tolerated. That’s YOLO’s message on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU).

Think sexual harassment doesn’t exist? You’re in the ignore it, laugh it off and/or tolerate it category. In Australia, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men having experienced workplace sexual harassment in the last 5 years, and even male harassment of other men is on the rise. [Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2012 national sexual harassment prevalence survey, Working Without Fear.]

YOLO Sydney won the business in a competitive pitch to develop a national awareness strategy to increase understanding of workplace sexual harassment. Its response is a campaign called Know Where the Line Is.

The Working Without Fear study showed that there is limited understanding among both employers and employees about what constitutes sexual harassment. And one of the unusual things about sexual harassment is that it causes confusion. People know that something ‘not right’ is happening to them or someone else, but they don’t know what to call it or what to do.

YOLO’s campaign, uses a simple mnemonic device to educate people about what constitutes crossing the line. And it underlines the importance of bystander action, whether this be listening, supporting or reporting, encouraging bystanders to “See. Talk. Support.”

Justine Metcalfe, creative partner at YOLO, said, “Unfortunately there are many people going to work in fear. Daily. Many feel powerless, cornered and shamed. Hopefully this campaign encourages victims and bystanders to act and speak up.”

Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, added, “We have received very positive feedback from workplaces around Australia about how useful Know Where the Line Is in supporting employees to understand sexual harassment and to take bystander action if they see or hear about it in their workplace. The unique and innovative design of this strategy has meant that it is being picked up by many workplaces as part of their broader efforts to prevent sexual harassment in their organisations.”