JB Hi-Fi staff talk of gender discrimination and harassment

JB Hi-Fi has been hit with allegations of gender discrimination, and of failing to do enough to support female staff that experience inappropriate behavior.

A report in The Age calls the business a “boys club” that does little to support female workers, and outlines instances of sexual harassment coming from both customers and fellow staff, as well as management.

JB employees quoted in the report express feeling afraid to speak out and do anything about the incidents after previous attempts to complain to management left them with no support and confronted with a “customer is always right” mentality – to the employee’s detriment.

“Senior management have facilitated a culture of sexual harassment and gender discrimination,” the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union said.

“Their Boys Club has harassment dismissed, men paid more and over 70 per cent of managers being men.”

Inside Retail has contacted JB Hi-Fi for comment, but it has yet to respond to our questions.

The business told The Age that it is committed to ensuring all team members are respected, and that it is an inclusive and welcoming workplace.

“We have processes in place for any team member to raise concerns of gender discrimination or sexual harassment, including reporting channels, and an independent external reporting hotline,” the spokesperson said.

“[And] we have a diversity strategy, objectives and initiatives in place to improve the representation of women in leadership roles over time.”

JB Hi-Fi encourages staff to utilise the Stopline Whistleblower Hotline, which allows “any employee, supplier or customer to anonymously report suspected or actual wrongdoing in our clients’ businesses”.

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