Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee

Sexual harassment in the workplace inquiry

Closed Opened 8 Jan 2018 Closed 8 Jan 2018
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Research suggests that 40% of women and 18% of men have experienced some form of unwanted sexual behaviour in the workplace, ranging from unwelcome jokes or comments of a sexual nature to serious sexual assault. [Source: ComRes poll for the BBC ] On 31 January, the Committee heard oral evidence from experts on employment and law . We are now launching a full inquiry to consider in more depth issues covered in that session. We are inviting written evidence specifically on: how widespread sexual harassment in the workplace is, and whether this has increased or decreased over time who experiences sexual harassment in the workplace, who perpetrates it and what the impact is on different groups actions that the Government and employers should be taking to change workplace culture to prevent sexual harassment, give people more confidence to report sexual harassment, and make this issue a higher priority for employers how workers can be better protected from sexual harassment by clients, customers and other third parties the effectiveness and accessibility of tribunals and other legal means of redress and what can be done to improve those processes the advantages and disadvantages of using non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases, including how inappropriate use of such agreements might be tackled This inquiry will sit alongside our related inquiry on the Sexual harassment of women and girls in public places.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 8 January 2018.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 5th Report - Sexual harassment in the workplace on 25 July 2018.

The government's response

Published 18 December 2018.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government agrees with many of the Committee's aims, including a statutory Code of Practice, but proposes to consult on several measures and does not agree with a new Public Sector Equality Duty specific duty.

  • It agrees to a new statutory Code of Practice on sexual harassment, to be developed by the EHRC with government support, and will consult on whether it would be an effective tool, including its potential impact on business.
  • It does not agree with a new specific duty under the Public Sector Equality Duty and will not take it forward in England; it also considers a compensation uplift for breach of the Code "premature".
  • On tribunal time limits, it does not propose to take forward pausing the countdown during internal grievances, but proposes to consult on extending limits from three to six months.
  • It agrees to gather regular data and will scope and commission a survey at least every three years, expecting to "launch our survey questions in 2019".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions

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Date Session and witnesses Source
13 Jun 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
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6 Jun 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
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23 May 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
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16 May 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
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25 Apr 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
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28 Mar 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
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31 Jan 2018
Oral evidence session
No witnesses recorded
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Correspondence

15 letters

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PublishedDirectionLetter
15 Nov 2018 To committee Letter from the Minister for Women, Government Equalities Office, regarding plans for the Government response to Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 26 October 2018
15 Nov 2018 To committee Letter from Director General of the Bar Standards Board, regarding the progress the Bar Standards Board (BSB) is making to help reduce harassment at the Bar, dated 31 October 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from the Care Quality Commission, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 27 September 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, regarding the inquiry on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 12 October 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from Ofsted, regarding further evidence into the inquiry on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 12 October 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from the General Medical Council, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 28 September 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from the Financial Conduct Authority, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 28 September 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from the Bar Standards Board, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 28 September 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from the Nursering and Midwifery Council, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 27 September 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from Health and Safety Executive, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 27 September 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 11 September 2018
14 Oct 2018 From committee Letter to Regulatory bodies, regarding regulatory responsibility of sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 31 July 2018
14 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 7 September 2018
11 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from the President of The Law Society, regarding Committee's report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 3 October 2018
12 Sep 2018 To committee Letter from the Government Equalities Office, relating to the report on sexual harassment in the workplace, dated 4 September 2018