Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
4
Recommendation
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Rejected
Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 which provides protection from discrimination on the basis of a combination of two relevant protected characteristics presents a limited understanding of how overlapping characteristics are used to discriminate against individuals and prevent the most vulnerable from bringing harassment claims based on their actual …
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Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 which provides protection from discrimination on the basis of a combination of two relevant protected characteristics presents a limited understanding of how overlapping characteristics are used to discriminate against individuals and prevent the most vulnerable from bringing harassment claims based on their actual experience. The Government should bring section 14 of the Equality Act into force and consider whether an amendment to that section is required to better protect those facing intersectional inequality. Businesses are already aware of their responsibilities to equality of treatment under the Equality Act; bringing section 14 into force would impose minimal additional burdens. (Recommendation, Paragraph 35) 59
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to bring section 14 of the Equality Act into force, stating it is unnecessary as courts already allow multiple claims and robust protections exist.
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Government Equalities Office
9
Recommendation
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Rejected
Reform of parental leave for freelancers is overdue. The current system places the burden of childcare onto the mother and offers no financial support for self-employed fathers or same-sex partners wanting to share childcare responsibilities. The Government should bring forward legislation to allow self-employed mothers and fathers to share parental …
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Reform of parental leave for freelancers is overdue. The current system places the burden of childcare onto the mother and offers no financial support for self-employed fathers or same-sex partners wanting to share childcare responsibilities. The Government should bring forward legislation to allow self-employed mothers and fathers to share parental leave and pay and for the leave to be taken non-consecutively as is the case with PAYE employees. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52)
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to introduce legislation allowing self-employed parents to share parental leave and pay, stating there are no current plans to introduce such entitlements for self-employed fathers or partners. It clarifies existing support for employed parents and general benefits.
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Government Equalities Office
11
Recommendation
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Rejected
The Government should bring forward legislative proposals to extend the protections relating to discrimination and harassment in the Equality Act 2010 to include all freelancers. Limitation periods for Equality Act-based discrimination and sexual harassment claims should be extended to six months. In the meantime, the Government should set out clearly—in …
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The Government should bring forward legislative proposals to extend the protections relating to discrimination and harassment in the Equality Act 2010 to include all freelancers. Limitation periods for Equality Act-based discrimination and sexual harassment claims should be extended to six months. In the meantime, the Government should set out clearly—in its response to this report—which freelance workers are currently entitled to protections under the Equality Act and which are excluded from that protection. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62) Sexual harassment and abuse
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to extend Equality Act protections to all freelancers, stating there are no current plans to change or extend the Act in this area. It clarifies which freelancers are currently covered and acknowledges it is 'looking closely' at extending the limitation …
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Government Equalities Office
15
Recommendation
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Rejected
A recording studio should be a safe space for all those who work there. Frequently this is not the case, and commercial self-interest is prioritised over personal safety. We recommend that all commercial recording studios should be licensed. That licensing process should include a sexual harassment risk assessment to ensure …
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A recording studio should be a safe space for all those who work there. Frequently this is not the case, and commercial self-interest is prioritised over personal safety. We recommend that all commercial recording studios should be licensed. That licensing process should include a sexual harassment risk assessment to ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect the safety of those who work there, particularly during out 61 of hours sessions, and clear reporting pathways when incidents do occur. Studios where there are repeated instances of harassment and abuse should lose their licence. Contracts should allow for termination in the event of inappropriate behaviour. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to introduce new licensing requirements for commercial recording studios, stating it has no plans to do so. It welcomes the industry-led Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority as an alternative to ensure safe workplaces.
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Government Equalities Office
16
Recommendation
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Rejected
The Government’s weakening of the Worker Protection Act 2023 has let down women already vulnerable to sexual abuse and harassment in insecure work settings. While we welcome the duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to protect their employees from sexual harassment, without third-party harassment liabilities, it will be harder …
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The Government’s weakening of the Worker Protection Act 2023 has let down women already vulnerable to sexual abuse and harassment in insecure work settings. While we welcome the duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to protect their employees from sexual harassment, without third-party harassment liabilities, it will be harder for employees to bring a case against employers who have failed to protect them from sexual harassment from audience members and from staff they have not employed. While few cases were brought under the previous provisions, in removing them the Government underestimated their deterrent effect and encouragement of best practice. There is overwhelming support for their reinstatement. (Conclusion, Paragraph 89)
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects the call to reintroduce employer liability for third-party harassment, stating it has no current plans to do so. It highlights the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which introduces a duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment.
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Government Equalities Office
19
Recommendation
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Rejected
Public funding and licensing of music venues should be made conditional on those premises taking steps to tackle gender bias, sexual harassment and abuse. This should include the training of venue staff by accredited organisations that work in the sector. The Government should review international examples, such as the measures …
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Public funding and licensing of music venues should be made conditional on those premises taking steps to tackle gender bias, sexual harassment and abuse. This should include the training of venue staff by accredited organisations that work in the sector. The Government should review international examples, such as the measures introduced in France, Ireland and Barcelona, and introduce similar policies in the UK. The Government should consider making funding available to smaller venues to enable them to meet this condition. (Recommendation, Paragraph 96)
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects making public funding and licensing conditional on music venues tackling sexual harassment, stating it is up to individual businesses to decide on staff training. They encourage venues to partner with specialist organizations and highlight existing guidance for licensing authorities to consider these …
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Government Equalities Office
28
Conclusion
2nd Report - Misogyny in music
Rejected
CIISA is not a panacea for all of the problems of discrimination, harassment and abuse in the industry. It is not a statutory body. Reforms to the Equality Act 2010 remain essential in order for freelance workers to be adequately protected from discrimination. Ultimately, CIISA’s effectiveness will be judged on …
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CIISA is not a panacea for all of the problems of discrimination, harassment and abuse in the industry. It is not a statutory body. Reforms to the Equality Act 2010 remain essential in order for freelance workers to be adequately protected from discrimination. Ultimately, CIISA’s effectiveness will be judged on whether it can move the instincts of organisations from putting the interests of a potentially lucrative but abusive person they view as an asset ahead of the needs of their victims. We hope CIISA will be a success. Time will tell whether the powers available to it are sufficient to drive that change. (Conclusion, Paragraph 125)
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises freelancers but states there are no plans to change or extend the Equality Act 2010 for them at present, explaining that many freelancers are already covered. It is, however, looking into extending the time limit for bringing claims.
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Government Equalities Office