Out of Sight, Out of Compliance: The Hidden Risk in Respect@Work

Respect@Work legislation is not just another HR initiative. It's a legally enforceable mandate that places a positive duty on organisations to eliminate sexual harassment and foster safe, respectful workplaces.

Medium to large businesses across Australia are under increasing pressure to not only update policies, but to embed them visibly and consistently across every layer of the workforce. In today’s hybrid and dispersed work environment, this presents a critical challenge: how do you ensure every employee—from head office to home office to the warehouse floor—sees, understands, and remembers your Respect@Work commitments? 

What Organisations Are Required to Do 

Under the updated Respect@Work framework, employers must: 

• Take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment, not just respond to complaints. 
• Promote awareness of rights and responsibilities among all employees. 
• Provide accessible reporting pathways and support mechanisms. 
• Regularly communicate behavioural expectations and company values. 
• Demonstrate they’ve taken ‘reasonable steps’ to meet their legal duty. 

 Crucially, these responsibilities apply across all levels and locations. Traditional communication tools like email or intranet announcements. These channels are easily overlooked, and don’t guarantee that critical Respect@Work messages are seen, absorbed, or understood by the entire workforce. 

The Risk of Doing Nothing 

Failing to embed and reinforce Respect@Work messaging can have far-reaching consequences: 

• Legal exposure from non-compliance or failure to demonstrate proactive effort. 
• Reputational damage from negative publicity or regulatory intervention. 
• Cultural erosion as employees lose trust in leadership commitment to safety. 
• Lower employee engagement and higher turnover. Particularly among women and younger staff. 

The Australian Human Rights Commission has enforcement powers and is actively auditing businesses for compliance. The standard isn’t whether you have a policy, it’s whether employees see, understand, and live it daily. 

How Vibe Helps You Operationalise Respect@Work 

Respect@Work compliance isn’t achieved through a single policy rollout or one-and-done workshop. It requires consistent, visible reinforcement that resonates over time. That’s where Vibe’s Snackable Learning Framework plays a vital role. 

Instead of overloading employees with dense content they’re likely to forget, Vibe transforms important Respect@Work themes into bite-sized, visual messages that are delivered continuously across everyday digital channels to reach employees where they naturally spend time. These micro-learning moments are spaced out intentionally, through a proven technique called spaced repetition, which boosts memory, strengthens recall, and drives lasting behavioural change. 

This approach is particularly effective for culture-driven compliance initiatives like Respect@Work, where the aim goes beyond policy awareness to fostering an environment where respect is visible, understood, and embedded in daily behaviour. 

With Vibe, Respect@Work isn’t just launched, it’s lived. 

The benefits of this approach: 

• Sustained awareness of behavioural expectations, rights, and reporting options 
  

• Higher retention through repetition across screens people see daily 
  

• Less message fatigue through short, focused updates that stay relevant 
  

• Demonstrable effort to meet your ‘reasonable steps’ obligation under the law 

Reaching Every Team, Everywhere 

Vibe’s visual communication tools are designed to support this learning model at scale, making sure no team is left out, no matter where or how they work: 

1. Digital Signage for Frontline Teams
   High-impact displays in break rooms, warehouses, and operational areas ensure Respect@Work messaging reaches the teams who rarely check email or intranets, but see screens every day. 
   
   
2. Screensaver & Lock Screen Messaging
   For hybrid and in-office teams, these passive touchpoints surface Respect@Work values and conduct expectations without interrupting the workday, driving cut-through and repetition with zero friction. 
   
   
3. Meeting Room & Visitor Displays
   Extend your culture of respect to shared spaces and reception areas. These screens reinforce your values to employees and visitors alike, making Respect@Work part of the environment, not just the onboarding. 
   
   
4. Targeted Scheduling by Site, Role, or Region
   Respect@Work is not one-size-fits-all. Vibe enables precise targeting, so content is always relevant, appropriate, and seen by the right people at the right time, supporting both compliance and culture. 

Respect@Work compliance requires more than a policy. It demands ongoing visibility, consistent reinforcement, and tangible proof that your organisation is taking its obligations seriously. 

Vibe offers a low-effort, high-impact way to operationalise Respect@Work, ensuring consistent communication across in-office, hybrid, and frontline teams. By embedding key messages into the everyday rhythm of work, Vibe helps you meet your legal obligations while building a culture where respect is understood, seen and reinforced daily.