LRD guides and handbook February 2023

Tackling sexual harassment at work — an LRD guide

Introduction

Introduction [page 3] (495 words)

It is more than five years since the #MeToo hashtag went viral as millions of women shared their experience of sexual harassment in workplaces. But ...
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Chapter 1

What is sexual harassment and how widespread is it? [ch 1: page 5] (78 words)

Sexual harassment is, unfortunately, all too pervasive in society, including in the workplace. This chapter sets out why sexual harassment is, ...
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What is sexual harassment? [ch 1: page 5] (153 words)

Sexual harassment is a trade union issue [ch 1: page 5] (324 words)

The scale of the problem [ch 1: page 6] (252 words)

The impact of the pandemic [ch 1: page 7] (182 words)

Who is most affected by sexual harassment at work? [ch 1: page 7] (460 words)

Chapter 2

How can the law help? [ch 2: page 9] (224 words)

The main source of legal rights to protection from sexual harassment at work is the Equality Act 2010 (EA 10). This chapter summarises these rights ...
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What is sexual harassment? [ch 2: page 9] (2,477 words)

Victimisation [ch 2: page 15] (137 words)

Who is protected against sexual harassment and victimisation under the EA 10? [ch 2: page 15] (386 words)

Who has legal liability for sexual harassment under the EA 10? [ch 2: page 16] (459 words)

What are ‘reasonable steps’ to avoid sexual harassment? [ch 2: page 17] (920 words)

Sexual harassment by ‘non-employees’ under the organisation’s control [ch 2: page 19] (347 words)

Trade unions [ch 2: page 20] (166 words)

Sexual harassment by third parties [ch 2: page 20] (384 words)

Tribunal remedies for sexual harassment [ch 2: page 21] (968 words)

Campaigning for more effective sexual harassment laws [ch 2: page 24] (1,120 words)

Chapter 3

Union campaigns to tackle sexual harassment [ch 3: page 28] (72 words)

This chapter looks at some of the different types of tactics unions have used to tackle and prevent sexual harassment. They range from a complaint ...
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International union action [ch 3: page 28] (741 words)

NEU It’s Not OK campaign: taking a whole school approach [ch 3: page 30] (300 words)

Get Me Home Safely: Unite “leverage” campaigning beyond the workplace [ch 3: page 30] (552 words)

Musicians’ Union: Safe Space reporting scheme [ch 3: page 32] (343 words)

‘Erase the Grey’ campaign at Glasgow Caledonian University [ch 3: page 33] (281 words)

Chapter 4

Negotiating with employers [ch 4: page 34] (69 words)

The Fawcett Society gender equality campaign has carried out a review of current research and identifies five key requirements to create a workplace ...
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Changing the culture [ch 4: page 34] (459 words)

Negotiating a sexual harassment at work policy [ch 4: page 35] (526 words)

Surveying members [ch 4: page 37] (556 words)

Carrying out a risk assessment [ch 4: page 38] (511 words)

Training [ch 4: page 39] (346 words)

Union rep and member training [ch 4: page 40] (244 words)

Chapter 5

Reporting, responding and representing members [ch 5: page 41] (48 words)

This chapter looks at union advice on reporting mechanisms for sexual harassment, how employers should respond to complaints of sexual harassment, ...
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Reporting mechanisms [ch 5: page 41] (601 words)

How employers should respond to complaints — what does a good anti-harassment procedure look like [ch 5: page 43] (583 words)

The role of union reps [ch 5: page 44] (203 words)

Advice on representing a member reporting sexual harassment [ch 5: page 45] (891 words)

Representing both sides [ch 5: page 48] (107 words)

Representing an alleged harasser [ch 5: page 48] (755 words)

Dealing with formal allegations of sexual harassment [ch 5: page 50] (260 words)

Investigations [ch 5: page 51] (264 words)

Anonymous evidence [ch 5: page 52] (97 words)

Suspension [ch 5: page 52] (257 words)

Disciplinary hearings [ch 5: page 52] (65 words)

Sanctions [ch 5: page 53] (337 words)

Chapter 6

How are unions putting their own houses in order? [ch 6: page 54] (172 words)

In February 2023, the trade union movement was once again rocked by the findings of an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment, this time at ...
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The Monaghan investigation at the GMB [ch 6: page 54] (222 words)

The Carr review at the RCN [ch 6: page 55] (321 words)

The Kennedy inquiry at the TSSA [ch 6: page 55] (266 words)

TUC action to tackle sexual harassment in the union movement [ch 6: page 56] (826 words)

Examples of action to tackle and prevent sexual harassment within unions [ch 6: page 58] (1,956 words)

Further information

Further information (436 words)

...
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