The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 6: Winter 2017/18 | Page 26

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace -
Have we reached a tipping point?
by Jo Kangurs, KeystoneHR
In the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, more and more
allegations of sex harassment are coming to the forefront, from the BBC
to Government, highlighting that it is still very much a prevalent issue in
our workplaces.
How does UK law define harassment?
Sexual harassment is covered by the
Equality Act 2010 and is defined as
“unwanted conduct of a sexual nature
which has the purpose or effect of
violating someone’s dignity, or creating an
intimidating, hostile, degrading humiliating
or offensive environment”
Examples may include:
-Showing an employee or co-worker
unwanted physical attention
-Making a joke of a sexual nature and
dismissing it as ‘banter’
-Displaying secularly explicit images
-Making decisions such as pay increases
or promotions based on whether sexual
advances are accepted or rejected
Sexual harassment isn’t limited to face-
to-face interaction – it can be online, by
phone or letter. It also applies to events
outside the workplace such as Christmas
parties and business trips.
How does UK law define harassment?
HARASSMENT POLICY
It is essential to develop, implement and
enforce a zero tolerance harassment policy
which clearly states what constitutes
unlawful behaviour, the process for raising
a complaint and what the consequence will
be if complaints of sexual harassment are
founded.
HARASSMENT TRAINING
Providing employees and managers with
harassment training, how to spot unlawful
behaviour and how to handle complaints, is
an important part of minimising the risk of
harassment in the workplace.
INVESTIGATE FULLY
When a complaint has been received it
is essential to fully investig