Inclusive
Wear It Purple Day on Friday, 29 August 2025 is more than just an opportunity to sport a splash of purple – it’s a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusion, visibility, and respect for LGBTQIA+. It’s also a timely chance to reflect on your legal obligations and best practices in the workplace, when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
What Is Wear It Purple Day?
Started in 2010, Wear It Purple Day is an annual awareness initiative that supports LGBTQIA+, aiming to foster environments where they feel safe, supported, and empowered.
Employers Take Note:
Creating inclusive environments isn’t just good for morale – it’s required by law.
Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), as well as state and federal anti-discrimination laws, employees are protected from adverse treatment based on their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status.
This means:
- Employers cannot discriminate against employees or job candidates because they are LGBTQIA+.
- All employees have the right to a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
- Bullying, harassment, or exclusion based on sexual orientation or gender identity can amount to unlawful conduct.
Workplace policies and training should reflect these legal standards, not just on Wear It Purple Day – but every day.
Tips for Employers
- Review your policies: Ensure anti-discrimination, bullying, and diversity policies are up to date and inclusive of LGBTQIA+ protections; and
- Provide training: Education around respectful behaviour and unconscious bias helps build a safer culture.
This Wear It Purple Day, take the opportunity to check in with your policies, your people, and your practices. If you’re unsure whether your workplace is meeting its legal obligations, or if you need guidance on implementing inclusive policies, our employment law team at Tisher Liner FC Law is here to help.