Preventing harassment at work: A note for employers

In the weeks since the 7 July 2005 attacks in London, the CRE has received a number of enquiries from employers  asking for advice on how to deal with, and prevent, harassment in the workplace.

Although the number of incidents reported to the CRE remains small, any harassment is unacceptable, and may be unlawful. Employers have a ‘duty of care’ to all their workers; in order to demonstrate that harassment is taken seriously, employers should consider adopting the following steps:

• Remind workers, clients and customers of the organisation’s equal opportunities and anti-harassment policies.
• Make clear that harassment (physical or verbal conduct that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment) will not be tolerated.
• Remind workers of the procedures for lodging complaints of discrimination and harassment.
• Make sure managers and supervisors understand their responsibilities under the organisation’s equal opportunities and anti-harassment policies.
• Provide refresher training courses on equality and anti-discrimination legislation.
• Set up a support group and/or helpline for workers who might have experienced harassment or feel unsafe.
• Introduce counselling and support services for workers.

Workers are an invaluable resource and it is therefore extremely important that they feel safe and supported at work and do not need to fear discrimination and harassment.

Workers are legally protected from harassment on racial and religious grounds under the Race Relations Act and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.

Employers are therefore responsible for maintaining a workplace that is free from discrimination or harassment. They should make it clear that any such abuse will not be tolerated. Failure to take reasonable steps to prevent such behaviour will result in employers shouldering the liability for the actions of abusive staff.

For further information please contact Ann Marie Vincent, CRE Senior Policy Officer for Employment, on 020 7939 0244.