UK Acts in Response to Widespread Reports of Sexual Harassment at Work

Author: Ellen Pinkos Cobb

​​In light of surprising workplace sexual harassment statistics, the UK government is taking actions aimed at determining whether the current laws provide the protections they are supposed to provide to women. The most recent action is a public consultation aimed at gathering evidence about whether the current laws on protecting people from sexual harassment in the workplace are effective. The consultation acknowledged that sexual harassment in the workplace persists at "a startling rate".

The UK published the consultation on harassment in the workplace in response to concerns raised by the Women and Equalities Select Committee in their 2018 report. The consultation began on July 11th and ends on October 2, 2019, seeking comments on the following:

• The evidence for the introduction of a mandatory duty on employers to protect workers from harassment in the workplace;
• How to strengthen and clarify the laws relating to third party harassment; and
• Evidence to extend Employment Tribunal time limits in the Equality Act from three months.

 
This follows the Government's announcement in December 2018 that it will introduce a new statutory code of practice to tackle workplace sexual harassment.

Source:
Gov.UK, Consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace athttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace.

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