Sexual harassment


The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned the UK’s largest firms that it will take legal action where it finds evidence of failures to prevent or deal with sexual harassment.


The EHRC has written to the chairs of FTSE 100 companies and other leading employers reminding them of their legal responsibility for the safety and dignity of their employees.


It has asked them to supply evidence of what safeguards they have in place to prevent sexual harassment, what steps they have taken to ensure that all employees are able to report instances of harassment without fear of retribution, and how they plan to prevent harassment in the future. 


Where it discovers evidence of systemic failings, the equalities watchdog says it will consider exercising its enforcement powers. 


The EHRC has also produced new legal guidance for businesses.

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/sexual-harassment-and-the-law-guidance-for-employers.pdf