Worker Protection Bill

Did you know this?

Within the workplace, employers are responsible for preventing bullying, harassment, and discrimination under the Equality Act of 2010.

Employees and workers are also currently protected within this legislation, which protects people against sexual harassment and harassment related to ‘protected characteristics’, such as a person’s sex.

However, current legislation does not require employers to take active steps to reduce the prevalence of harassment within their workplace, only that they have to act once an incident has taken place. Additionally, they are not responsible for protecting employees from third-party harassment.

To prevent unwanted behaviours within the workplace, employers need to take reasonable steps to drive cultural change to tackle the prevalence of harassment, be it from within the workplace itself, or from external third-parties.

The Worker Protection Bill, which is at committee stage, will amend the Equality Act, and mean that employers would have a duty to ensure reasonable steps are taken to prevent sexual harassment of employees, but also would be liable for any third-party harassment, if they don't take steps to prevent harassment.

It is imperative that organisations are aware of what they need to do to protect their employees from any kind of harassment, and that will only work if there is a cultural change implemented. Everyone needs to work together to support this.

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https://www.suzylamplugh.org/national-personal-safety-day-2022-stamp-out-harassment-campaign

#Harassment #WorkerProtectionBill