UNIONS have put employers “on notice” to reform their shop floors as new laws aimed at eradicating sexual harassment in the workplace come into force in Britain today.
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act introduces a legal duty for employers to “take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.”
The legislation includes sexual harassment by third parties such as an employer’s customers, including shoppers sexually harassing shopworkers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Although it isn’t perfect, Unite welcomes the new law and is today putting employers on notice that we will be holding them to account if proactive policies to prevent sexual harassment are not in place.
“Sexual harassment occurs across the economy — strong unions backed by effective legislation are essential for stamping it out.”
Unite national officer for equalities Alison Spencer-Scragg said: “Preventing sexual harassment should be at the top of every employer’s agenda.”
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Worker Protection Act is an important step towards making workplaces safer for workers, particularly women, but more needs to be done.
“No-one should face sexual harassment at work, or in wider society, but we know that women experience sexual harassment and abuse on an industrial scale.
“Many women in essential front-line jobs — like shopworkers and GP receptionists — suffer abuse and harassment regularly from clients and customers.
“The new Act, which was hard-won by unions, will put the responsibility firmly on employers to take a pro-active and preventative approach to keeping workers safe from sexual harassment and to tackling it in their workplaces.”
Conciliation service Acas has urged firms to form policies on sexual harassment, train managers on their responsibilities and create an environment where victims feel safe to report incidents of sexual harassment and situations where they felt unsafe.
Acas head of inclusive workplaces Julie Dennis said: “Sexual harassment is unacceptable at work or anywhere else.
“We want everyone to understand this, and we are urging employers to take a proactive approach to stamping it out.”
Failure to comply with the new law can result in enforcement action by the government’s Equality and Human Rights Commission.
