Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
Gender equality
Practice meets perfect
May/June 2023 issue

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
    • Member accolades
    • Member tributes
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Achieving Fellowship
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Back to basics
    • Book club
    • Infographics
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Videos
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
      • Achieving Fellowship
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • Topics
  • Health
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Bullying
Regulation/enforcement
Agriculture and forestry
Catering and leisure
Sector: Central government
Chemicals
Construction
Education
Sector: Energy
Sector: Financial/general services
Healthcare
Manufacturing and engineering
Mining and quarrying
Retail
Third sector
Transport and logistics
News

Campaign urges government to strengthen workplace sexual harassment law

Open-access content Friday 28th June 2019
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.

The alliance has also launched a petition for the new legislation, which would see employers become legally liable if they fail to protect their staff from sexual misconduct.
The duty on organisations would be supported by a code of practice, including mandatory training for staff and managers, and clear policies.
The alliance, This is Not Working, is backed by 28 organisations, including Amnesty International, Business in the Community, Fawcett Society and Time's Up UK.
Fawcett's chief executive Sam Smethers said: "We need to strengthen the law to better protect women from harassment from co-workers, clients or customers and we need a new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. They have to take responsibility for their own workplace culture.
"Everyone is entitled to dignity and respect at work. Sexual harassment has no place in any workplace."
In May, the government said it would launch a consultation on workplace sexual harassment "shortly". This will consider evidence for introducing a new duty of employers to prevent harassment and extending the protections of the Equality Act to volunteers and interns.
Under current law, it is the victim's responsibility to report sexual harassment at work to their employer after it has happened.
The petition says: "Our laws rely on individuals reporting but #ThisIsNotWorking. The onus is on the victim to report -- which can be isolating, confusing and potentially traumatic. Four out of five don't feel able to report sexual harassment to their employer.
"It should not be down to the individual to prevent and manage their harassment alone.
Research by the TUC found that more than half (52%) of women have experienced sexual harassment at work. However, 79% of these said they did not feel comfortable reporting it to their employer, suggesting that "harassment continues unchecked in workplaces across the UK", the TUC said.
Its general secretary, Frances O'Grady, said: "It's shocking that in 2019 so many people experience sexual harassment and assault while at work.
"The government must strengthen the law to put responsibility for preventing harassment on employers.
"This would shift the burden of tackling sexual harassment away from individuals. And it would help end toxic workplace cultures that silence those who've been harassed.
"We're calling on everyone who wants to stop sexual harassment at work to join us and call on minister to take action."

You may also be interested in...

Image credit: iStock/ Dean Mitchell

 Promote lunchtime exercise classes to reduce obesity, NICE says

Friday 7th June 2019
Organisations are being urged to promote lunchtime fitness classes to manage obesity in the workplace. 
Open-access content

 Learning from: expert witnesses

Tuesday 23rd July 2019
Three specialists outline five key lessons that OSH professionals can consider in their work.
Open-access content

 New voluntary standards scheme targets workplace mental health

Thursday 6th June 2019
A voluntary accreditation scheme aimed at improving employee wellbeing has been launched by a mental health consultancy.
Open-access content

 ‘Blue tape’ business rules report aims to help SMEs find ‘proportionate’ advice

Thursday 18th July 2019
The safety and health rules businesses impose on each other – often referred to as “blue tape” – combined with inconsistent, sometimes incompetent advice threaten to discredit sensible regulation and good guidance and practice.
Open-access content

 The art of seeing

Saturday 27th July 2019
A training technique typically used in art education offers a fresh perspective on identifying hazards.
Open-access content

 Proposals to prevent health-related job loss an opportunity to be 'vigorously seized'

Thursday 18th July 2019
Proposals aimed at reducing the number of British people who lose their jobs because of disabilities and ill health provide an opportunity that must be “vigorously seized”, the professional body for workplace health and safety professionals said today.
Open-access content
Topics
Bullying
Regulation/enforcement
Agriculture and forestry
Catering and leisure
Sector: Central government
Chemicals
Construction
Education
Sector: Energy
Sector: Financial/general services
Healthcare
Manufacturing and engineering
Mining and quarrying
Retail
Third sector
Transport and logistics
News
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Health and Safety Improvement Manager

Leeds
£35000 - £50000 per annum
Reference
5452992

SHEQ Systems Advisor

Up to £40000.00 per annum + Car Allowance
Reference
5452988

Senior Health and Safety Manager

Reading
Up to £65000.00 per annum + Great Car Allowance & Benefits
Reference
5452983
See all jobs »

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

© 2023 IOSH • IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites

ioshmagazine.com and IOSH Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ