A woman allegedly told by her manager that her facial hair was "disgusting" received compensation and resigned from her job after taking her case to Equal Opportunity Tasmania.

Key points: A woman who had facial hair because of a medical condition was awarded compensation after being told by her employer to remove it

A woman who had facial hair because of a medical condition was awarded compensation after being told by her employer to remove it The case was one of 179 complaints received by Equal Opportunity Tasmania last financial year

The case was one of 179 complaints received by Equal Opportunity Tasmania last financial year Its annual report also shows the University of Tasmania was granted exemptions from anti-discrimination laws to hire female academics

Another woman who was suspended from work after shaving her head in support of her cancer patient mother was handed $3,000 compensation thanks to intervention from the state's anti-discrimination body.

The complaints were two of 179 received by Equal Opportunity Tasmania (EOT) last financial year and detailed in the body's annual report.

According to the document tabled in the Tasmanian Parliament on Wednesday, the woman with facial hair had alleged disability and gender discrimination, saying the hair was linked to a medical condition.

"The manager allegedly expressed disgust and made comments about her removing the hair," the report said.

"The employer responded to the allegations with a substantially different recollection of the conversation."

One woman received a $69,000 payout from her employer after her manager kissed her, told her he loved her then "called her names" when she rejected his advances.

A person with a disability involved with a sporting club alleged they were subjected to taunts including "spastic" and "retard" and told they shouldn't be playing the sport.

People involved in that case attended a conciliation conference. Part of the resolution included having the code's presidents and umpires attend a talk about discrimination and vilification.

Almost 60 per cent of complaints were solved through conciliation or negotiation, according to the annual report.

The 179 complaints received by EOT was an increase on the 147 recorded in 2017-18.

Allegations of discrimination, offensive conduct and causing, inducing or aiding a breach increased in Tasmania in the 2017-18 financial year.

Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sarah Bolt urged Tasmanians to approach each other with kindness.

" ... if gratitude, respect and kindness were a daily practice in our lives there would be much less room for negative attitudes and antisocial behaviours," Ms Bolt said.

University wins exemption for academics

The annual report also revealed the University of Tasmania was granted exemptions to advertise specifically for female academics and lecturers.

This included in chemistry, geo-environment and geo-metallurgy, civil and environmental engineering and geology.

UTAS Provost Jane Long said the institution aimed to do better in attracting women to science, technology, engineering and maths roles.

"We teach and we research at the University of Tasmania, passing on knowledge and ideas and asking and answering new questions," Professor Long said.

"To do that well, we need all the advantages that diversity and gender equity bring."