Sexual harassment survey: please take part
Employers are responsible for ensuring that employees do not face harassment in their workplace.
Sexual harassment in the workplace is still widespread.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) research in 2016, for example, found that 52 per cent of women had experienced sexual harassment at work.
Sexual harassment occurs when an individual engages in unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature.
It has the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of whoever is being harassed, and of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the individual concerned.
‘Of a sexual nature’ can cover verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct including unwelcome sexual advances, inappropriate touching, forms of sexual assault, sexual jokes, displaying pornographic photographs or drawings, or sending emails with material of a sexual nature.
It could be unwelcome jokes of a sexual nature; being the subject of comments of a sexual nature about their body or clothes; experiencing unwanted touching – like a hand on the knee or lower back; unwanted verbal sexual advances; or unwanted sexual touching or attempts to kiss them.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is gathering evidence from people who have experienced, witnessed or offered support to those experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace.
The Commission wants to understand what measures could help prevent this from occurring in the future and what would have improved your workplace’s response to the harassment.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is Great Britain’s national equality body and one of several national human rights institutions.
It is responsible for encouraging equality and diversity, eliminating unlawful discrimination, and protecting and promoting the human rights of everyone in Britain.
It is currently running a survey and would also like to hear from people who have experienced, witnessed or supported others with workplace sexual harassment, so that the voices of people who have been affected shape the solutions that it intends to propose.
The survey asks individuals to let them know what they think might have helped in their case and what changes they think need to be made to tackle this issue.
To take part in the survey, click here.
The deadline is 19 January 2018.
The information you provide will form an important part of the evidence the Equality and Human Rights Commission consider and help them understand which solutions might work best.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission will also be gathering evidence from employers to drive positive change in Britain’s workplaces. If any evidence of systemic failings is discovered, the Commission will consider using its statutory enforcement powers.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that employees do not face harassment in their workplace. They have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to protect their employees and will be legally liable if they fail to do so.
You can download the Commission’s ‘sexual harassment and the law: guidance for employers’ here.
Below are some sources of advice and information if you are currently or have been faced with sexual harassment at work.
Acas: the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides advice and other services to help prevent or resolve workplace problems.
Call them on 0300 123 1100.
To visit the Acas website click here.
Citizens Advice England and Wales: visit the Citizens Advice website by clicking here.
Citizens Advice Scotland: visit the Citizens Advice Scotland website by clicking here.
Victim Support: an independent charity which provides free, confidential and tailored support to victims of crime, regardless of whether the crime has been reported or how long ago it happened.
Free supportline: 0808 16 89 111
Rape Crisis England and Wales: promotes the needs and rights of women and girls who have experienced sexual violence, to improve services to them and to work towards the elimination of sexual violence.
You can find details of your nearest specialist service on their website here.
Alternatively, you can call the national Rape Crisis on 0808 802 9999 between 12noon – 2.30pm and 7pm – 9.30pm every day of the year for confidential support and/or information about your nearest services.
Rape Crisis Scotland: further information on sexual harassment can be found on the Rape Crisis website or you can call 08088 01 03 02 – every day from 6pm to midnight.
Samaritans: a charity with trained staff who can provide emotional support for workers who are struggling to cope and need somebody to listen to them. You can call them on 116 123 or go to their website.
Police: call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if the crime is in progress.
Call 101 to contact the police if the crime is not an emergency.
For the England and Wales police visit www.police.uk or Scotland at www.scotland.police.uk