Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Sexual harassmentBullying and harassmentLatest News

Introduce sexual harassment duties on employers, campaign urges

by Ashleigh Webber 26 Jun 2019
by Ashleigh Webber 26 Jun 2019 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Unions, women’s rights organisations and charities have increased pressure on the government to make employers responsible for protecting their staff against sexual harassment.

The “This is not working” alliance has reiterated calls for new legislation that puts the responsibility for tackling inappropriate behaviour at work on employers. The government is expected to launch a consultation on addressing sexual harassment soon.

Sexual harassment

Unethical use of NDAs to be outlawed

Lloyd’s of London sexual harassment cases multiply

Eight per cent of NHS staff sexually harassed in past year

The alliance – which is formed of 20 organisations including the TUC, Business in the Community, the Fawcett Society and Unison – has launched a petition that demands an “easily enforceable” legal duty on employers to take “reasonable steps” to protect their staff.

If its recommendation is taken forward, a new duty would be supported with a code of practice, mandatory training for staff and managers, and clear workplace policies on harassment.

The petition says: “Our laws rely on individuals reporting but #ThisIsNotWorking. The onus is on the victim to report – which can be isolating, confusing and potentially traumatic. Four out of five don’t feel able to report sexual harassment to their employer. It should not be down to the individual to prevent and manage their harassment alone.”

Last week the International Labour Organization agreed to a treaty on violence and harassment, which will require ILO members (including the UK) to protect workers against sexual harassment.

According to research commissioned by the TUC earlier this year, 52% of women and 68% of LGBT people have experienced sexually harassment at work. Eight in 10 (79%) women affected do not feel able to report it to their employer, which allows harassment to continue without consequence for the perpetrator.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s shocking that in 2019 so many people experience sexual harassment and assault while at work.

“The government must strengthen the law to put responsibility for preventing harassment on employers. This would shift the burden of tackling sexual harassment away from individuals. And it would help end toxic workplace cultures that silence those who’ve been harassed.

“We’re calling on everyone who want to stop sexual harassment at work to join us and call on ministers to take action.”

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The Fawcett Society chief executive Sam Smethers said: “Everyone is entitled to dignity and respect at work. Sexual harassment has no place in any workplace.”

Employee relations opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more Employee Relations jobs

Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is a former editor of OHW+ and former HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support.

previous post
Employees struggle to find L&D opportunities effective, report finds
next post
Manufacturing sector could lose 20m jobs to automation

You may also like

Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of...

20 May 2025

Ministers urged to outlaw misuse of NDAs

7 May 2025

Lincolnshire doctor awarded £250k in race discrimination case

2 May 2025

BBC to ‘act immediately’ on workplace culture review

28 Apr 2025

Philip Green loses human rights case at ECHR

8 Apr 2025

Woman asked ‘why do you want to work’...

3 Apr 2025

One in seven experience workplace abuse, finds major...

2 Apr 2025

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

2 Apr 2025

University of Sussex attacks Kathleen Stock freedom of...

27 Mar 2025

DSTL scientist constructively dismissed for gender-critical views

24 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+