EMPLOYERS LIABLE FOR THIRD-PARTY HARASSMENT
| Published: 21st April 2008 15:17 |
For organisations which employ people in a client-facing or public capacity, duties under the Sex Discrimination Act have now been extended to protect workers from sexual harassment by customers or other members of the public.
The change in the law came about following a challenge at the High Court by the Equal Opportunities Commission (now the Equality and Human Rights Commission) which argued that the Government had not properly implemented the EU Equal Treatment Directive when introducing the corresponding Sex Discrimination Regulations in 2005
As from 6th April 2008, workers will be able to make a claim against an employer who fails to take reasonable steps to protect them if the employer was aware that at least two incidents had already occurred. Employers must, therefore, take seriously any staff complaints of inappropriate behaviour from customers and be seen to be taking all reasonable steps to prevent further acts of harassment.
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