Christmas Party Coming Up…..Read On!!!
Christmas Parties and the immediate aftermath can cause chaos within the workplace. I’m sure at some point in our working life, we have all heard rumours about colleagues getting tipsy and making inappropriate passes at colleagues. This may all be taken in good humour and for the most part I think we can agree that Christmas Parties can be great fun. However, at this time of year, employees must remember that their actions, even at a Christmas Party, could give rise to very serious repercussions. Similarly, employers should give appropriate guidance to staff who attend work functions. Read my blog to find out more.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010 “the Act” provides a definition of harassment, for the full section see http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/26. For the purposes of this blog, I have only summarised the main points relevant to sexual harassment.
Harassment can include any unwanted conduct relating to sex which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating for them an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
Harassment can include unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating for them an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
Harassment can also occur when a person engages in unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or that is related to gender reassignment or sex which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating for them an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment AND because of a person’s rejection of or submission to the conduct, they are treated less favourably that they would have been if they had not rejected or submitted to the conduct.
EXAMPLES
- written or verbal comments of a sexual nature, such as remarks about an employee’s appearance, questions about their sex life or offensive jokes
- displaying pornographic or explicit images
- emails with content of a sexual nature
- unwanted physical contact and touching
- sexual assault
(examples sourced from http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6078)
Assistance From LincsLaw Solicitors?
If you are an employer struggling with staff relations, or an employee who is unhappy with advances made at work, please do not hesitate to call me or any other member of our specialist team on 01522 440512, email ContactUs@lincslaw.com or visit our website at www.lincslaw.co.uk.
Sophie Goodwill
Specialist Employment Law Solicitor
Tags: Christmas Party employment solicitor lincoln sexual harassment