Bill will give new rights to millions of workers including protection from third-party harassment
Employers must protect their workers from sexual harassment – including from customers and clients – under the government’s sweeping new employment rights bill.
The new obligation is part of a series of measures published in Thursday’s landmark employment rights bill, which Labour had promised to lay before parliament within 100 days.
The bill, which is expected to take up to two years to fully implement after lengthy consultations, will give new rights to millions of workers including the right to sue their employer for unfair dismissal without waiting for two years of employment.
But the new bill also contains a slew of new protections at work, including toughened maternity and pregnancy discrimination and an obligation for employers to draw up menopause action plans.
Among the measures that have been fleshed out for the first time are a new protection from third-party harassment, which employers must take “reasonable steps” to prevent, such as protecting bartenders from harassment by pub customers.
It will mean employers will have to anticipate where such harassment may occur and put in place action plans to protect their workforce. It is likely to include reporting channels and fresh complaints procedures, as well as risk assessments. It could also include more direct communication with customers and clients about the expectations in...
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