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Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill - Sitting 1

23 November 2022

Proposing MP
Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
North Antrim
Type
Public Bill Committee

At a Glance

Issue Summary

The statement discusses amendments to the Equality Act 2010 aimed at strengthening protections for employees against harassment by third parties and introducing a duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. The statement discusses the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill aimed at preventing workplace sexual harassment. The statement discusses the importance of legislating against workplace sexual harassment, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by marginalized groups. The statement discusses support for the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill aimed at combating workplace harassment. The statement discusses the progress of a bill regarding worker protection.

Action Requested

The Bill introduces explicit protections for employees from workplace harassment by third parties, such as customers or clients, and imposes a duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent their employees from experiencing sexual harassment. It amends the Equality Act 2010 without defining specific measures under 'all reasonable steps' to allow flexibility.

Key Facts

  • Half of British women and one fifth of men have been sexually harassed at work or a place of study.
  • The Bill amends section 40 of the Equality Act 2010, inserting proposed new subsections 1A and 1B to make employers liable if they fail to take all reasonable steps to prevent third-party harassment.
  • Employers will be legally required to consider the risks that third parties may pose in their workplaces.
  • The legislation aims to prevent workplace sexual harassment by reinforcing existing laws and encouraging employers to take reasonable steps to protect employees.
  • Clause 3 amends section 120 of the Equality Act, restricting stand-alone claims for employer duty breaches.
  • Clause 4 inserts new section 124A into the Equality Act, providing for compensation uplifts in cases of employer duty breaches.
  • Half of women and seven out of ten LGBTQ+ workers have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work.
  • Sexual harassment affects workers across industries including retail, NHS, financial firms, and Parliament.
  • The Bill proposes a duty of care for employers towards their employees regarding workplace harassment.
  • The Equality Act 2010 is being amended through the Bill.
  • Nearly three quarters of the UK population have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime.
  • The Government consulted on legal protections for workplace harassment and received over 4,000 responses.
  • The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill is being reported by the Committee.
  • There were no amendments proposed for the bill.
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