Government will introduce a new Code of Practice so employers better understand their legal responsibilities to protect their staff as part of a package of commitments to tackle sexual harassment at work.

Responding to the Women and Equalities Select Committee report, the Government Equalities Office also promised to carry out awareness raising work with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), the Equality and Human Rights Commission and employers on how to prevent and address sexual harassment at work; to work with regulators to ensure they are taking action; and commission survey data on the prevalence of sexual harassment at work.

The government will also consult on:

Non-disclosure agreements
How to strengthen and clarify the laws in relation to third party harassment
The evidence base for introducing a new legal duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
ComRes, in their 2017 research for the BBC, claim that 40% of women (and 18% of men) have experienced unwanted sexual behaviour at work at some point.

Minister for Women Victoria Atkins said:

“Sexual harassment at work is illegal, but sadly that disgusting behaviour is something that many women still experience today.

“We are taking action to make sure employers know what they have to do to protect their staff, and people know their rights at work and what action to take if they feel intimidated or humiliated.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe at work.”

Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said:

“It continues to disappoint me that in this day and age some women still face discrimination and harassment at work.

“One part of this is the minority of cases where non-disclosure agreements are used unethically, and employees may not be aware of their protections and rights. We will be consulting on these.”

Going beyond the recommendations in the WESC report, the government has also promised to consult on whether additional protections are needed for volunteers and interns, (looking at all the protections in the Equality Act 2010, not just those on sexual harassment), and to explore the evidence for extending the time limits to bring any workplace discrimination and harassment case under the Equality Act 2010 to an employment tribunal.

Notes to editors:

The government is developing next steps on this package.

The government will:

Introduce a new statutory code of practice on sexual harassment, which will be developed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission under its Equality Act 2006 powers
Run awareness raising work with Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), Equality and Human Rights Committee (EHRC) and employers
Commission a survey to gather regular data on the prevalence of sexual harassment
Consult on non-disclosure agreements
Consult on the evidence base for a new legal duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
Consult on strengthening and clarifying the laws on third party harassment in the workplace
Consult on whether further legal protections are required for interns and volunteers
Consult to explore the evidence for extending employment tribunal time limits for Equality Act 2010 cases
Ensure the public sector takes action to tackle and prevent sexual harassment
Work with regulators for whom sexual harassment is particularly relevant to ensure they are taking appropriate action
Consider whether further learnings can be taken from the criminal justice system to use in the employment tribunal system, to ensure vulnerable claimants have appropriate protection
Check that the list of organisations who can receive ‘whistleblowing’ information includes the right bodies

Interesting choice of picture to illustrate this topic.

Not saying women can't behave inappropriately but it is overwhelmingly men who commit sexual harassment. That image is more like a man's fantasyof when Miss jones lets down her hair and can't keep her hands off the hapless fellow. Ugh.

Originally Posted by joan ofarc

Interesting choice of picture to illustrate this topic.

Not saying women can't behave inappropriately but it is overwhelmingly men who commit sexual harassment. That image is more like a man's fantasyof when Miss jones lets down her hair and can't keep her hands off the hapless fellow. Ugh.

So what is your point? Are you saying that the statistics preclude the use of images showing women in a predatory role?
Having been the recipient of similar attention, from an older female colleague as a young man, I can assure you the effect was equally as unpleasant.
I'm also sure there are women who entertain similar fantasies about window cleaners supping from a can of diet coke.

Originally Posted by gazaprop

So what is your point? Are you saying that the statistics preclude the use of images showing women in a predatory role?
Having been the recipient of similar attention, from an older female colleague as a young man, I can assure you the effect was equally as unpleasant.
I'm also sure there are women who entertain similar fantasies about window cleaners supping from a can of diet coke.

I am saying that it shows at the least, a tin ear for the problem, and at worst, a diminishing of it by making it seem like fun.
And that is exactly how women's experiences have been treated historically. If you read my reply carefully you will see that I acknowledge that it is not always men who commit harassment. However, equating fantasies of window cleaners with the experience you say you had is a false equivalency.

It is a rather frivolous photo, considering the enormity of the problem and the, at best, discomfort - at worst terrifying experience, if you've been a victim. Male or female.

Wondering if it was the photo released with the material, or something the author might have thought appropriate?

Originally Posted by joan ofarc

I am saying that it shows at the least, a tin ear for the problem, and at worst, a diminishing of it by making it seem like fun.
And that is exactly how women's experiences have been treated historically. If you read my reply carefully you will see that I acknowledge that it is not always men who commit harassment. However, equating fantasies of window cleaners with the experience you say you had is a false equivalency.

I did read your post carefully and accept that patronising nugget with good grace.
You make fair points but - what I take issue with is you feeling the need to highlight the role men play in these incidents whilst prefacing this with an almost dismissive acceptance of women's involvement.
My point about the window cleaner reference was that messages using attractive men, aimed at women, have at times, been similarly tacky but, have not attracted the same outcry as those using women in a similar manner.
Perhaps if there had, rather than accept the double standards, then more progress would have been made and, much more quickly.
Another example of this is the current fashion of showing men to be the most dim-witted oafs when presented with any domestic or social dilemma - there remains much to be done.