Young women want a fairer deal when things go wrong at work and they’ve told us exactly what that should look like. Building on our Swept under the rug research, we asked young women and workplace experts to help design a workplace rights enforcement system that actually works.
We ran a survey with 117 young women, interviewed key stakeholders, and brought people together for a workshop to imagine what good enforcement could look like – rather than just patching up what’s broken.
We found that:
- It shouldn’t be down to young women to enforce their own rights. Almost half (45%) said accountability was the value they most wanted the Fair Work Agency to embody. Employers and regulators, not individual workers, should carry the weight of holding standards up.
- Reporting needs to feel safe, not risky. Protection from retaliation was the single most important thing young women wanted from a reporting system.
- Too many young women and employers don’t know where they stand. Better information about workplace rights would help both sides get it right.
- Prevention needs to be the focus. Young women want a Fair Work Agency that spots problems early, using data and inspections, rather than only stepping in after harm’s been done.
- Change has to be a team effort. Employers, unions, support organisations and government all have a part to play, and young women want to help shape that system, not just be consulted on it.
So what can be done about it?
We’re calling for:
- A strong, independent Fair Work Agency with real powers to hold employers to account, including meaningful fines for those who break the rules.
- Safe, simple reporting routes, with clear information, protection from retaliation and regular updates so people aren’t left in the dark.
- Better access to information for young women and employers alike, through a single, trusted source of guidance.
- Proactive enforcement that targets the industries and employers where problems are most common, before people get hurt.
- Young women’s voices built into the system, not just consulted once and forgotten.
Want to help make this happen? Join thousands of people taking action for a fairer world of work.
What are my rights?
If you’re a young woman and you’re unsure about your rights at work, you’re not alone and we’re here to help.