Reports of rape and attempted rape have increased inside Rio Tinto, according to a progress review report documenting efforts to make the workplace safer and change the culture at the mining company, which employs 57,000 globally.
The report, authored by the former Australian sex discrimination commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, found improvements but also revealed that in some instances the workplace culture has deteriorated since the first Everyday Respect report in 2022.
Broderick’s 76-page report into the company’s global operations noted that a rise in bullying against women was in part “retaliation” to Rio Tinto’s efforts to “promote gender diversity and inclusion”.
Kellie Parker, the chief executive of Rio Tinto Australia, told Guardian Australia the rise in complaints had led to a “significant increase” in terminations across the business.
The report revealed eight allegations of rape or attempted rape in the past 12 months, up from five cases in 2021. The report also found 32 employees reported experiencing pressure or requests for sex or sexual acts, down from 37 people in 2021.
Overall, 39% of survey respondents had experienced bullying in the last 12 months – up from 31% in 2021.
“Generally, while reports of bullying increased across all genders, the largest increase between 2021 and 2024 was against women,” the report said.
“This change can be explained by a range of factors including increasing retaliation in the form of gendered bullying as a response to Rio Tinto’s efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusion.”
Parker said some of the report’s findings were “horrible to read”.
“It’s horrible that people are still experiencing this awful behaviour.”
She said there had been a “significant increase” in terminations as more people reported some of these behaviours to the company.
“There’s definitely a spectrum of behaviour here,” she said.
“You get low-level sexism and racism and people often once they’ve … been given feedback, they absolutely change. But some of the way more serious cases that we’ve seen, it’s been terminations, and that absolutely has happened across our business.”
One in two women at the company were more likely to have experienced bullying in the last 12 months compared to 36% of men, the report said. Those figures were a deterioration from 2021, where 36% of women and 29% of men said they suffered bullying.
The report found some men inside the company, which operates in 35 countries, felt aggrieved by diversification programs in the company.
“From men, resistance was primarily located in the sense of being undervalued or overlooked due to the perceived stronger focus on gender balance and diversity, with some expressing their view that there was reverse discrimination and that women were being hired who were not suitably qualified,” the report said.
“There was specific resistance towards programs and strategies targeted at women and other marginalised groups, such as leadership programs.”
In a statement, Rio Tinto’s chief executive Jakob Stausholm apologised to victims and vowed to continue with Rio’s programs.
“People are still experiencing behaviours and attitudes in our company that are unacceptable and harmful. I am greatly troubled by this and sincerely apologise on behalf of our leadership team to anyone affected.”
Stausholm also pointed to points of progress outlined in the review, which showed some workers were noticing an improvement in the culture: two in three employees were quite confident Rio Tinto would make a “meaningful difference” in the next two years.
“The review also shows that while progress is being made, achieving the sustained change we want to see in our culture will require ongoing focus and effort. My message today is that we will stay the course,” he said.
Broderick – who was appointed by Rio in 2021 to conduct an independent review into its workplace culture – “applauded” some of the company’s efforts, which included investment in security upgrades at its camps, and setting quotas for increasing female participation in its workforce.
“Two years on, the progress is evident and there is an ongoing commitment to this work. I am not surprised to see some areas where results haven’t improved, this is a normal part of the cultural change process,” she said.
“With sustained focus from Rio Tinto, we should expect to see the positive change spread over time.”
The review surveyed more than 10,000 workers.
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
