Change in the law on sexual harassment in the workplace
New preventative duty introduced on employers to protect employees
The way others behave towards you in the workplace can have a huge impact on your wellbeing . Your employer has a duty of care to you as an employee , which includes protecting your physical wellbeing as well as your emotional and mental wellbeing . In October 2024 , an amendment to the Equality Act 2010 came into force that introduced a new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment of their employees .
Up until October 2024 , UK companies would deal with cases of alleged sexual harassment on a case-by-case basis . Figures suggest that between 38 % and 60 % of women , and approximately 17 % of men , have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work [ 1 ] . It is likely that a large number of incidents are not reported . In October , it became an employer ' s legal obligation not only to deal with sexual harassment as it occurs , but also to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment occurring in the workplace . This is called a ‘ preventative duty ’.
The law aims to improve workplace cultures . It calls on employers to anticipate how sexual harassment could occur in their workplace and to take reasonable proactive steps to prevent it from happening . The law protects employees , workers , contractors , locums and self-employed people who are hired to work in a veterinary practice , for example , and extends to protecting employees of third parties , including clients and suppliers . If an employment tribunal finds a company has breached the new duty , the law also gives the tribunal the power to increase compensation for sexual harassment by up to 25 %.
What can be considered unwanted conduct ?
• Spoken words
• Banter
• Written words
• Posts or contact on social media
• Imagery
• Graffiti
• Physical gestures
• Facial expressions
• Mimicry
• Jokes or pranks
• Aggression
• Behaviour affecting a person ' s surroundings
• Behaviour affecting a person ' s property
• Physical behaviour towards a person
8 Veterinary Nursing Journal