By Charlotte Webster-
A new Code of Practice to employers to better understand their legal responsibilities to protect their staff as part of a package of commitments to tackle sexual harassment at work has been launched today.
Responding to the Women and Equalities Select Committee report, the Government Equalities Office has promised to carry out awareness raising work with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and employers on how to prevent and address sexual harassment at work; to work with regulators to ensure they are taking action; and commission survey data on the prevalence of sexual harassment at work.
The government will also consult on:
Non-disclosure agreements to strengthen and clarify the laws in relation to third party harassment is based for on statistics used to introduce a new legal duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
ComRes, in their 2017 research for the BBC, claim that 40% of women (and 18% of men) have experienced unwanted sexual behaviour at work at some point.
Minister for Women Victoria Atkins said:
“Sexual harassment at work is illegal, but sadly that disgusting behaviour is something that many women still experience today.
“We are taking action to make sure employers know what they have to do to protect their staff, and people know their rights at work and what action to take if they feel intimidated or humiliated.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe at work.”
Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said:
“It continues to disappoint me that in this day and age some women still face discrimination and harassment at work.
“One part of this is the minority of cases where non-disclosure agreements are used unethically, and employees may not be aware of their protections and rights. We will be consulting on these.”
Going beyond the recommendations in the WESC report, the government has also promised to consult on whether additional protections are needed for volunteers and interns, (looking at all the protections in the Equality Act 2010, not just those on sexual harassment), and to explore the evidence for extending the time limits to bring any workplace discrimination and harassment case under the Equality Act 2010 to an employment tribunal.
In developing next steps on this package, the government will introduce a new statutory code of practice on sexual harassment, which will be developed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission under its Equality Act 2006 powers.
This will run alongside an awareness raising work with Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), Equality and Human Rights Committee (EHRC) and employers.
Additionally, it will commission a survey to gather regular data on the prevalence of sexual harassment. Additionally, it will
consult on non-disclosure agreements, and on the evidence base for a new legal duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
It will further strengthen and clarify the laws on on third party harassment in the workplace and consult on whether further legal protections are required for interns and volunteers
n and clarify the laws on third party harassment in the workplace, and consult on whether further legal protections are required for interns and volunteers. A consultation to explore the evidence for extending employment tribunal limits for Equality Act 2010 cases will also be implemented. Under the new plans, the public sector will take action to tackle and prevent sexual harassment. Additionally, it will work with regulators for whom sexual harassment is particularly relevant to ensure they are taking appropriate action.
It will also consider whether further learnings can be taken from the criminal justice system to use in the employment tribunal system to ensure claimants have appropriate protection.
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