5th Report - Sexual harassment in the workplace

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