Harassment a serious issue in NZ justice system - Criminal Bar

• Mocking or professionally insulting – 69.2%
• Invalid or baseless criticism or fault finding – 60.1%
• Shouting or raised voice – 58.1%
• Based on age or experience – 56.9%
• Based on gender – 45.9%
• Personal comment or insult – 44.7%
• Unwelcome sexual attention – 28.5%
• Threats both overt or covert – 27.3%
• Being set unrealistic goals or expectations – 24.5%
• Based on race – 17.0%
• Withholding information vital to effective work performance – 13.0%
• Deliberate exclusion from workplace activities – 8.3%
• Based on family circumstances – 5.9%
• Based on sexual orientation – 4.7%

Of the 283 respondents, 64% were women, while 36.04% were men. The bar said that 40.43% or respondents are barristers sole, followed by firm employees (17.73%), Public Defence Service workers (12.06%), Crown or police or government employees (11.35%), firm partners (10.99%), employed barristers (4.96%), and in-house counsel (2.48%).

Asked how many times they had experienced or witnessed harassment or bullying in the last four years, the respondents said:

• 0 to 5 – 40.4%
• 6 to 10 – 21.7%
• More than 10 – 20.2%
• More than 20 – 17.7%

Respondents were mostly stressed and lost confidence because of the behaviour.

• Stress – 77.9%
• Loss of confidence – 73.1%
• Reduced desire to continue working in that field – 61.3%
• Anxiety – 51.0%
• Fear of re-entering the environment – 39.5%
• Breakdown of the professional working relationship – 39.1%
• Sleep disturbance – 38.3%
• Moving to another position/job – 19.4%
• Other – 14.6%
• Nausea – 11.1%
• Taking more sick leave – 10.3%
• Withdrawal/isolation – 10.2%
• Substance abuse – 7.1%
• High blood pressure – 6.3%