Workplace harassment: Wera Hobhouse's Bill makes progress

 The Liberal Democrat MP for Bath writes:

Over the past few months there has been a steady stream of news stories about harassment in workplaces across the UK, from the NHS and regulatory bodies to large corporations. Yet many incidences of harassment still go unreported and with no action taken to redress the perpetrators. Research by the House of Commons suggests 40 percent of women and 18 percent of men in the UK have experienced some form of workplace harassment. We Liberal Democrats have continually campaigned hard to protect women and girls. In 2018, as a new MP, I campaigned to make upskirting a crime. My Private Member’s Bill on this issue was taken on by the Government as the Voyeurism (Offences) (No.2) Bill in 2019. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are determined to keep working hard to prevent women from being harassed, wherever they are. Today I wanted to update you about the passing of my Private Members Bill on workplace sexual harassment, which is a key part of our work fighting for more equitable work spaces. The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill requires employers to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment, instead of putting the onus on individual employees to report incidents. The Bill makes employers liable to their employees if they have not taken reasonable steps to prevent harassment. This amendment will address deficiencies in the Equality Act 2010 identified by the EHRC, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee, and the Fawcett Society. In 2018 the EHRC found that only a minority of employers had effective processes to prevent and address sexual harassment. What does this change to the law mean? Currently, the law places the onus on an individual to report an incident of harassment to her superiors. This means, in practice, that women do not report harassment because they are embarrassed about ‘making a fuss’ or worried that it will impact their career prospects. That is why a 2018 TUC report estimated that as many as 79% of women have not reported incidents of workplace harassment. My Bill looks to change the culture of workplaces to prevent harassment before it happens. It sends a clear signal that such behaviour is unacceptable, and should bring about a long-term change in attitudes toward harassment. I am proud to have worked alongside brilliant organisations such as the Fawcett Society and the wider Alliance for Women, as well as the Minister for Women and Baroness Burt, to help make this Bill a reality. See my speech in Parliament on the Bill here:

Watch  ➜ Wera Hobhouse MP (she/her) Liberal Democrats