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ARTICLE · 08 NOVEMBER 2017

What Is Sexual Harassment At Work?

Brodies LLP
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Hardly a day has gone by in recent weeks without a headline about sexual harassment. But what sort of behaviour are we actually talking about?

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Kathleen Morrison
Kathleen Morrison

Hardly a day has gone by in recent weeks without a headline about sexual harassment. But what sort of behaviour are we actually talking about?

What is sexual harassment?

In terms of the Equality Act 2010, sexual harassment is where someone engages in:

  • Unwanted conduct related to sex or of a sexual nature; and
  • That conduct has the purpose or effect of violating another person's dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.

In addition, you can't treat someone less favourably because they reject (or submit to) harassment that is related to sex or of a sexual nature.

Some examples

  • Unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

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