Workplace Report January 2019

Health & safety - HSE Monitor

Sexual harassment rejection from Tories


The government has rejected a recommendation from a select committee of MPs that the HSE “must take up its share of the burden of holding employers to account if they fail to take reasonable steps to protect workers from sexual harassment”. 


Last year, the Women and Equalities Committee described the problem as a health and safety issue. 


However, in its response, the government rejected mandating sexual harassment action plans for all regulators and said the HSE is not the lead regulator for sexual harassment in the workplace. Instead, it was “able to contribute to the measures to move forward on this issue” and will include better advice and signposting on its website for employers and workers.

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmwomeq/1801/1801.pdf