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A high-profile s-xual harassment ruling provides a clear reminder to employers of the importance of ensuring that positive workplace cultures are led from the top, lawyers say.

At the workplace in question, the culture "tolerated overt and outspoken sexist and boorish behaviour", Federal Court Justice Robert Bromwich found.

The case involved a Mad Mex restaurant, owned by franchisee Mexicali Enterprises. An employee claimed that between September 2021 and early 2023, a director, along with three male employees, harassed her on the ground of sex, in breach of section 28AA of the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act.

She also alleged the director sexually harassed her in January and February 2023, in breach of section 28B(2) and (3)...