Tag: Sexual Harassment

8% of women admitted having experienced sexual harassment at work

A workplace survey recently published by CareerWallet has revealed that 1 in 4 women (24%) are still experiencing inappropriate comments in the workplace or remotely via zoom and email from managers and colleagues. Only 10% of men said they have issues with similar comments meaning more than double the number of women are subjected to this. However, the survey showed that nearly twice as many men (10%) as women (6%) are experiencing homophobic behaviour and comments from colleagues or managers. According to the survey results, these toxic behaviours aren’t just happening in the office with many hybrid workers admitting to receiving comments on zoom calls or over email.

Survey results showed that nearly 1 in 10 women (8%) surveyed admitted having experienced sexual harassment at work and 28% of all women surveyed said they have experienced bullying from colleagues or direct line managers.

The extensive workplace survey gives a stark warning to employers across the UK as millions of workers are not only unhappy in their current roles but even worse are being subjected to aggressive, sexist and homophobic behaviour often from line managers. As firms struggle to recruit and keep the best talent due to mass skill shortages across so many sectors, it is essential employers offer positive and healthy environments for their staff to maximise staff retention rates.

Craig Bines, CEO at The CareerWallet Group, commented, “Our new workplace survey highlights how many employees are not only unhappy in their workplace but also being subjected to extremely toxic behaviour from line managers and colleagues.

It is hugely upsetting to hear so many women being subjected to inappropriate and sexist comments from colleagues and managers, especially in the modern workplace.  It is clear that many employers across the UK need to address their work environments and also consider how staff are being impacted through hybrid working.”

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Employers will be held liable if they fail to take all reasonable steps to prevent employees from experiencing sexual harassment at work, under new proposals announced by the Government Equalities Office (GEO).

In its response to the 2019 sexual harassment in the workplace consultation, the government committed to four key actions to strengthen protection against sexual harassment in workplaces.

These included introducing a duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, as well as introducing a requirement to “create explicit protections from harassment by third parties”.

It also said it would support the Equality and Human Rights Commission to produce a statutory code of practice, and that it was considering extending the time limit for bringing Equality Act-based cases to Employment Tribunals to six months, from the current three months.

In a Ministerial Foreword, Equalities Minister Liz Truss said: “The steps we plan to take as a result of this consultation will help to shift the dial, prompting employers to take steps which will make a tangible and positive difference. We want to provide the right legal framework, which supports employees and employers alike.

“We will be providing further protections to employees who are the victims of sexual harassment, whilst also furnishing employers with the motivation and support to put in place practices and policies which respond to the needs of their organisation. We now have a real opportunity to transform the workplace and guarantee everyone an environment in which they can thrive and feel safe.”

The announcement was welcomed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which urged the government to bring the changes into law quickly.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “No one should face sexual harassment at work, but the shocking reality is that most women have. Employers will now have a legal responsibility to protect their staff from sexual harassment.

“And employers must now protect their workers from all forms of harassment by customers and clients as well as from colleagues. This will help stamp out sexual harassment of women workers, and racist and homophobic abuse too. And it will make all public-facing workplaces safer – from shops to surgeries, salons to showrooms.

“If this is to be a genuine turning point, the government must change the law swiftly, put more resources into enforcing the new duties, and make sure victims have access to justice.

“Ministers have taken an important first step – but they must keep up the momentum. Sexual harassment at work is rife and needs tackling now.”

Photo curtosy of Canva.com

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