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.
Civil servants make hundreds of complaints about harassment
Hundreds of civil servants have complained about sexual harassment or bullying but only a small number have faced disciplinary action...
Google responds to walkout by ending ‘forced arbitration’
Google has announced it is to end its controversial “forced arbitration” policy under which employees in the US must agree...
Google workers stage global walkout
Staff and freelancers at Google offices across the world are walking out in protest of the tech giant’s treatment of...
Google dismisses 48 staff over sexual harassment
Google has dismissed 48 people – including 13 senior managers – over claims of sexual harassment in the past two...
Sir Philip Green named as businessman in sexual and racial harassment scandal
Billionaire named as the man at the centre of the "British #MeToo" scandal...
Government to examine use of NDAs in employment disputes
Theresa May has said the government will bring forward a planned consultation on the use of non-disclosure agreements in employment...
How technology can help employees speak up over misconduct
Allegations of misconduct that enter the public eye can ruin corporate reputations and mark an end to executive careers. HR...
Women subjected to ‘predatory’ behaviour by MPs
Women working at the House of Commons were subjected to “predatory” contact and treated like “personal servants” by MPs, an...
A third of people would challenge sexual harassment
More than a third (35%) of people would speak up about sexual harassment, following a shift in the kind of...
Four in 10 women sexually harassed at work
Almost four in 10 (37%) women have been sexually harassed at work in the last 12 months, yet organisations are...
Police chiefs commit to developing sexual harassment action plan
Police chiefs have vowed to address sexual harassment across the force after it emerged a high proportion of police officers...
Schoolgirl awarded £16k in Pizza Hut sexual harassment case
A 17-year-old schoolgirl receptionist at a Pizza Hut Delivery branch in east London has been awarded £15,800 after winning a...
Presidents Club dinner agency vows to improve working environment
The agency that supplied female staff for the men-only Presidents Club dinner earlier this year has entered into a legal...
Employers must do more to protect against sexual harassment at work, says committee
Attempts to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace have been inadequate and there has been a “failure to tackle unlawful...
Sexual harassment: How HR can help develop a culture of respect
Sexual harassment has been brought to the forefront of employers’ attention in recent months, following the rise of the #MeToo...
