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Sexual harassment

The Equality Act 2010 prohibits three types of sexual harassment in the workplace.

The main type of sexual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature perpetrated on a particular person, for example unwelcome sexual advances.

Also prohibited is sex-related harassment, which means unwanted conduct related to the protected characteristic of sex. The unwanted conduct does not have to be directed towards the complainant or related to his or her actual sex. This could include telling jokes about women or making derogatory sexist remarks about women.

And less favourable treatment based on a person’s rejection of or submission to sex-related harassment or sexual harassment is also unlawful. This could cover circumstances where a woman is rejected for promotion by her boss after turning down his sexual advances.


    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Employment law

    Ministers urged to outlaw misuse of NDAs

    by Rob Moss 7 May 2025
    by Rob Moss 7 May 2025

    Former transport secretary Louise Haigh joins activists calling on a ban of NDAs in the Employment Rights Bill.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Latest News

    BBC to ‘act immediately’ on workplace culture review

    by Jo Faragher 28 Apr 2025
    by Jo Faragher 28 Apr 2025

    The BBC will take ‘immediate action’ to improve its workplace culture after publishing an independent review.

    • Social mobility
    • Sexual harassment
    • Employment law

    Eight new equality laws in the pipeline

    by Rob Moss 10 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 10 Apr 2025

    Rob Moss examines eight potential new equality laws, including race and disability equal pay rules and dual discrimination claims.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Case law
    • Bullying and harassment

    Philip Green loses human rights case at ECHR

    by Rob Moss 8 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 8 Apr 2025

    ECHR rejects legal challenge by Sir Philip Green to stop parliamentary privilege allowing the disclosure of names in privacy injunctions.

    • Sexual harassment
    • NHS
    • Belief discrimination

    Darlington nurses’ changing room case delayed to October

    by Rob Moss 3 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 3 Apr 2025

    Judge told NHS Trust facing claim over trans access to nurses changing rooms that it must now comply with proceedings.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Discrimination

    Woman asked ‘why do you want to work’ wins sex harassment tribunal case

    by Adam McCulloch 3 Apr 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 3 Apr 2025

    A woman who was asked why she wanted to work has partially won her employment tribunal case after a judge...

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Employment law

    Former minister calls for end to ‘two-tier’ use of NDAs

    by Jo Faragher 2 Apr 2025
    by Jo Faragher 2 Apr 2025

    Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh has called for an end to a ‘two-tier’ system in how businesses use non-disclosure agreements....

    • Sexual harassment
    • Latest News
    • Executive recruitment

    Primark boss resigns after ‘error of judgment’

    by Jo Faragher 31 Mar 2025
    by Jo Faragher 31 Mar 2025

    Primark boss Paul Marchant has resigned following an allegation by a woman about ‘his behaviour towards her in a social environment’.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Sullivan Review shows how ‘sex’ has been purged from data

    by Rob Moss 20 Mar 2025
    by Rob Moss 20 Mar 2025

    Sullivan Review shows how biological sex has been erased from official data and that the meaning of sex is ‘no longer stable’.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Military

    ‘Independent’ team to handle Armed Forces complaints

    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025
    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025

    Tri-service team to handle bullying, discrimination and harassment complaints, 'independent' of army, air force and navy chain of command.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Financial services
    • Corporate governance

    Crispin Odey faces £1.8m fine and ban from financial services

    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025
    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025

    FCA announces decision to fine Crispin Odey £1.8m and ban him from the UK financial services industry for a lack of integrity.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Hospitality
    • Health and safety

    Sexual harassment: Employees have the right to protection at work

    by Mike Clancy 18 Mar 2025
    by Mike Clancy 18 Mar 2025

    Following allegations of drink-spiking in Parliament, Mike Clancy considers how employers should protect staff from sexual harassment.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Hospitality

    EHRC warns 1,400 McDonald’s branches of legal action against harassment

    by Jo Faragher 14 Mar 2025
    by Jo Faragher 14 Mar 2025

    The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has written to every branch of McDonald’s in the UK warning that owners could face action if they fail to protect staff from sexual harassment.

    • Social mobility
    • Sexual harassment
    • Financial services

    City financial regulators scrap DEI measures

    by Adam McCulloch 13 Mar 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 13 Mar 2025

    The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority have written to Treasury Committee MPs to state they will retain existing framework rather than apply new DEI measures.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Artificial intelligence
    • Employee relations

    New employment rights top priority for HR teams

    by Jo Faragher 10 Mar 2025
    by Jo Faragher 10 Mar 2025

    The top priority for HR teams in the coming year is adapting to the Employment Rights Bill, according to research by law firm Freeths.

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