Chevron Australia releases workplace review

Media Release: 29 November 2022

PERTH, Western Australia

Chevron Australia is taking action on inappropriate behaviour in the workplace having today published the outcomes of a voluntary, independent review.

The Safe, Respectful and Inclusive Workplace Review, which commenced in April this year and was carried out by external consultancy Intersection, examined the prevalence of bullying, harassment and discrimination in Chevron Australia workplaces.

Among a range of review activities, nearly 570 employees and contractors from across the company’s upstream sites in Perth and the Pilbara participated in a survey which sought to understand the prevalence of the behaviors.

Chevron Australia’s policies, procedures, training materials, diversity programs and demographic data were also examined.

The report makes 24 recommendations across four key focus areas:

• Addressing the prevalence of bullying, harassment (physical, verbal and sexual) and discrimination,

• Uplifting leadership accountability,

• Increasing diversity, equity and inclusion, and

• Improving the response to reports of inappropriate behaviours. 

A dedicated project manager, reporting directly to Chevron Australia’s Managing Director, has been appointed to support Chevron Australia’s leadership team in implementing the report’s recommendations.

Based on the survey results, Intersection found bullying is the most prevalent inappropriate behaviour in Chevron Australia workplaces, with 47 per cent of employees experiencing bullying in the past five years.

Sexual harassment is the second most prevalent behaviour with 30 per cent of employees experiencing sexual harassment in the last five years. Other forms of harassment were experienced by 29 per cent of employees.

While both men and women experience inappropriate behaviours, women reported experiencing these behaviours at higher rates than men.

Chevron Australia Managing Director Mark Hatfield said, “Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and included when they come to work. To anyone who has experienced inappropriate behaviour within our workplaces, I am truly sorry.

“What is clear is that bullying, harassment and discrimination occurs in our workplaces, and not everyone feels confident in reporting these incidents through the various channels available. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who came forward to share their experiences,” Hatfield said. 

“We accept the report and are determined to take meaningful action so our workplaces are safe, respectful and inclusive for everyone.”

Intersection CEO Natasha de Silva said, “Chevron Australia has taken the crucial step of ‘leaning in’ and recognising that you can’t change what you don’t know.

“Chevron Australia has strong foundations on which to build to improve prevention and response to inappropriate behaviour and create a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.”