Protection for workers from sexual harassment in new bill

Employers will have to protect their workers from sexual harassment - including from customers and clients - under the government's sweeping employment rights bill.

- Jessica Elgot

The new obligation is part of a series of measures published yesterday in a landmark employment bill, which Labour had promised to lay before parliament within 100 days.

The bill, which is expected to take up to two years to implement after lengthy consultations, will give new rights to millions of workers including the right to sue their employer for unfair dismissal without waiting for two years of employment.

It also contains a slew of new protections at work, including tougher measures against maternity and pregnancy discrimination and an obligation for employers to draw up menopause action plans.

Among the measures that have been fleshed out for the first time are a new protection from third party harassment - which employers must take "reasonable steps" to prevent - such as protecting bartenders from harassment by pub customers.