The Government has published a report stating that it will be introducing a new duty requiring employers to prevent sexual harassment. The Minister for Women and Equalities, Elizabeth Truss MP wrote ‘we will be providing further protections to employees who are the victims of sexual harassment, whilst also furnishing employers with the motivation and support to put in place practises and policies which respond to the needs of their organisation.’
The 4 key areas are:
- Introducing a mandatory duty on employers to protect their staff from sexual harassment at work.
- Introducing explicit protections for employees from harassment by third parties, for example customers or clients.
- Considering extending employment tribunal time limits from three to six months.
- Tasking the EHRC with developing a statutory code of practice on sexual harassment and harassment at work, setting out the steps that employers should take to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, and what can be considered in evidence when determining whether the duty has been breached.
The TUC commented that as well as sexual harassment, the new protections will help stamp out racist and homophobic abuse of workers too and warned that the legislation must be introduced as soon as possible and will need proper support for enforcement.
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