In this blog series, Astra Emir, practising barrister and author of Selwyn’s Law of Employment, explains what UK employment law says about some of the important issues faced by employers and employees.

An MP watching porn in the House of Commons and inappropriate comments made about the deputy leader of the Labour party’s legs: not even the place where our legislation is made appears to be immune from the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace.

Such harassment can take many forms, ranging from serious sexual assault like those committed by Harvey Weinstein, to sex-based comments that one party may find amusing “banter” but the recipient feels are degrading.

Some people at times find it difficult to distinguish between “I was only flirting” or “it’s just a harmless bit of fun’” and the affront to dignity and creation of a hostile working environment that many women (and men) feel that they are subjected to by such conduct, so it is important to know what the law actually says. Here we consider how the law defines sexual harassment and the defences employers and employees can have against a claim, as well as looking at what changes could be made in the future.

Prevalence of harassment

In 2020, the Government Equalities Office found that 29% of women had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment in the workplace the previous 12 months. This has not diminished with the increase in working from home—nearly one in two women who have experienced sexual harassment...

Read Full Story: https://blog.oup.com/2022/05/what-does-uk-law-say-about-sexual-harassment-in-...