According to new research from the TUC, more than half (52%) of women, and nearly two-thirds (63%) of women aged 18-24 years old, said they have experienced sexual harassment at work. The research. ‘Still just a bit of banter’, conducted in collaboration with the Everyday Sexism Project and carried out in January 2016, revealed that of the 1,533 women surveyed:
- 32% have been subject to unwelcome jokes of a sexual nature while at work;
- 28% have been the subject of comments of a sexual nature about their body or clothes at work;
- 23% have experienced unwanted touching – like a hand on the knee or lower back at work;
- 20% have experienced unwanted verbal sexual advances at work;
- 12% have experienced unwanted sexual touching or attempts to kiss them at work;
- in 88% of cases the perpetrator of the sexual harassment was male and 17% of women reported that it was their line manager, or someone with direct authority over them; and,
- 79% who said they experienced sexual harassment at work did not report it.
The report sets out a number of recommendations for the Government, employers and trade unions to take to stamp out sexual harassment (see pages 28 to 32).
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This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out all of the facts, the legal arguments presented and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.
