Recommendation 16

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)