AN ELECTRICIAN has been fined after the Frankston Magistrates Court found that he had harassed and bullied a young woman working as an apprentice.
The court heard that the company director, a 33-year-old Frankston South man, had repeatedly engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards the apprentice. That included making suggestive comments and gestures of a sexual nature, grabbing her clothes and speaking to her in an aggressive manner, sending her abusive intimidating text messages, touching her leg while seated in a work vehicle, rubbing her hair after being told not to, licking her eating utensils and eating her food, spitting into her water bottle, deliberately bumping into her, deliberately mispronouncing her middle name, and making derogatory remarks about her partner.
The company director pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to ensure a workplace under his management and control was safe and without risks to health. He was fined $15,000, and ordered to pay a further $3000 in costs. He has also apologised to the victim in writing. The alleged behaviour occurred between September 2022 and April 2023.
In a statement, WorkSafe said its investigation “found there were no policies or procedures at the workplace for reporting, investigating and stopping inappropriate behaviours.” WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Sam Jenkin said “the offending was a grotesque breach of trust and the standards expected of those who employ apprentices.”
“All workers, especially young workers who are just finding their way in the workforce, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by their employer and colleagues,” Jenkin said. “This is simply unacceptable behaviour from anyone, but appalling from a company director who was in a clear position of power, and I applaud the courage of this apprentice in speaking out.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 1 April 2025