Recommendation 25

Firms need to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards sexual harassment and abuse and take concrete action to embed this approach within their organisations. Impunity for perpetrators, who are often well known in their organisations for serial offending, must end. As well as being the right thing to do, several high- profile cases in 2023 show the potential negative impact on a firm if it fails to tackle sexual harassment by its staff. Senior leadership and boards need to take ownership of this issue and ensure that processes for handling complaints result in thorough investigations, protect those making the allegations, and result in appropriate consequences for those found to have perpetrated abuse or harassment. Firms should consider whether their human resources departments are able to fulfil this function, or whether there is a need to establish a separate, more independent process that reports directly to the senior leadership or board. (Paragraph 157) Sexism in the City 43