A toolkit designed to help organisations embed respectful conduct standards has been published by the Champions of Change Insurance Group.

The group, established in 2019, comprises Allianz, IAG, QBE, Steadfast, TAL, Hollard, Zurich and Suncorp.

“As insurers, our role is to help protect people from risk, and that responsibility must extend first and foremost in our own workplaces,” QBE CEO Australia Pacific Sue Houghton said. “This initiative is about setting consistent expectations for conduct and equipping our people to take action when things don’t feel right.”

The Australian Human Rights Commission estimates sexual harassment costs the Australian economy about $3.8 billion a year. Safe Work Australia says bullying, exclusion and work-related stress account for one-third of mental health-related workers’ compensation claims, averaging nearly $30,000 a claim. 

But processes to manage incidents, board engagement and early intervention remain inconsistent, and under-reporting persists, the insurer group says. 

The new resources include guidance on actions that help prevent harm and set clear expectations for respectful conduct; a practical guide to support constructive action when behaviour does not meet expected standards; and templates to embed respectful conduct into policies, contracts and daily practice.

“Being clear about what respectful behaviour looks like, and providing a safe and consistent way to respond when standards are not met, is an important step,” group convenor Kristen Hilton said.

See the toolkit here.