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Businesses are already suffering as thousands of women leap on the gravy train to get their sexual harassment payouts, so what happens?, they strengthen the sexual harassment laws.
BBC Article
Sex harassment law strengthened
The law has been amended to help tackle harassment
New sexual harassment legislation, aimed at tackling discrimination in the workplace, has come into force.
The European Equal Treatment Directive has extended the definition of sex discrimination to cover any act that leads to intimidation or degradation.
The TUC said the changes would make employers more responsible and allow female workers a better chance of fighting against harassment.
But businesses said the law would see companies facing "legalised blackmail".
Under the new law, a colleague who persists in making remarks about a woman's appearance could be accused of sexual harassment.
More responsibility
Sarah Veale of the TUC told BBC Five Live employers had a duty to protect their staff.
"The employer is vicariously liable. Often the employer will sit back and let it go on.
"An employer should make sure that the people it employs know how to behave and if they're causing offence to others then they should do something about it," she said.
In a separate statement, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber added: "Today's change will force employers to take their responsibilities towards providing a harassment-free working environment more seriously.
"There's no place in the modern workplace for office gropers and lechers and bosses need to do more to stop those responsible for bad behaviour from making working life unbearable for thousands of women."
'Compensation culture'
But Rex Garratt, spokesman for the Forum of Private Business, which represents more than 25,000 small to medium sized firms, said the changes were too heavily in favour of employees.
"Employers will view these changes to tribunals with a sense of utter dread.
"Tribunals are already bleeding businesses dry because they are so heavily loaded in favour of employees.
"Businesses face legalised blackmail as the costs of defending a case deny them justice from vexatious ex-employees on the make, supported by ambulance-chasing advisers who encourage doubtful claims."
He added private businesses had become a "prime target for the compensation culture".
"This compensation culture has seen a doubling in the amount of compensation awarded in 2004 in the key areas of sex, disability and racial discrimination."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Trade and Industry said the Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005 amend the law to "make explicit the fact that discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity leave and sexual harassment and harassment on the grounds of sex are unlawful.
"We also took the opportunity to amend the Sex Discrimination Act, so that it is in line, as far as possible, with other legislation tackling discrimination on the grounds of race, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation in the fields of employment and vocational training," she said.
BBC Article
Sex harassment law strengthened
The law has been amended to help tackle harassment
New sexual harassment legislation, aimed at tackling discrimination in the workplace, has come into force.
The European Equal Treatment Directive has extended the definition of sex discrimination to cover any act that leads to intimidation or degradation.
The TUC said the changes would make employers more responsible and allow female workers a better chance of fighting against harassment.
But businesses said the law would see companies facing "legalised blackmail".
Under the new law, a colleague who persists in making remarks about a woman's appearance could be accused of sexual harassment.
More responsibility
Sarah Veale of the TUC told BBC Five Live employers had a duty to protect their staff.
"The employer is vicariously liable. Often the employer will sit back and let it go on.
"An employer should make sure that the people it employs know how to behave and if they're causing offence to others then they should do something about it," she said.
In a separate statement, TUC general secretary Brendan Barber added: "Today's change will force employers to take their responsibilities towards providing a harassment-free working environment more seriously.
"There's no place in the modern workplace for office gropers and lechers and bosses need to do more to stop those responsible for bad behaviour from making working life unbearable for thousands of women."
'Compensation culture'
But Rex Garratt, spokesman for the Forum of Private Business, which represents more than 25,000 small to medium sized firms, said the changes were too heavily in favour of employees.
"Employers will view these changes to tribunals with a sense of utter dread.
"Tribunals are already bleeding businesses dry because they are so heavily loaded in favour of employees.
"Businesses face legalised blackmail as the costs of defending a case deny them justice from vexatious ex-employees on the make, supported by ambulance-chasing advisers who encourage doubtful claims."
He added private businesses had become a "prime target for the compensation culture".
"This compensation culture has seen a doubling in the amount of compensation awarded in 2004 in the key areas of sex, disability and racial discrimination."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Trade and Industry said the Employment Equality (Sex Discrimination) Regulations 2005 amend the law to "make explicit the fact that discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity leave and sexual harassment and harassment on the grounds of sex are unlawful.
"We also took the opportunity to amend the Sex Discrimination Act, so that it is in line, as far as possible, with other legislation tackling discrimination on the grounds of race, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation in the fields of employment and vocational training," she said.
There will always be those that will take advantage and see it as an opportunity to make easey money
And those that will be grateful because it goes on and not all women are strong enough to deal with it on their own................then there are the rest of us that would serve him his b**ls for his elvenses if he so much as tried it.
And those that will be grateful because it goes on and not all women are strong enough to deal with it on their own................then there are the rest of us that would serve him his b**ls for his elvenses if he so much as tried it.
hedders said:
Why is it that dealing with women is becoming more and more risky?
I don't think i would ever employ one or marry one, they own you as soon as you do!
I am married to a woman and employ five of them.
I think they are all wonderful.
The girls at work introduced Rude Fridays, so that one day each week they make suggestive comments, talk about sex, slag men off and generally behave much like some of the blokes on Pistonheads.
You know exactly where you stand with them, and were you to overstep the mark, you would either be told to F*ck Off in no uncertain terms, or slapped, depending on the extent of the misdemeanour.
Good fun and common sense. The opposite of legislation, tribunals and political correctness.
Cheers
Pat
One of my male colleagues said to me yesterday in front of the whole office that not only am I beautiful but helpful as well! I just laughed it off and carried on. He's a lovely (older) chap and as harmless as a fly. I think the odd compliment is fine, but there is a line they shouldn't cross.
PatHeald said:
Why is it that dealing with women is becoming more and more risky?
I don't think i would ever employ one or marry one, they own you as soon as you do!
I am married to a woman and employ five of them.
I think they are all wonderful.
The girls at work introduced Rude Fridays, so that one day each week they make suggestive comments, talk about sex, slag men off and generally behave much like some of the blokes on Pistonheads.
You know exactly where you stand with them, and were you to overstep the mark, you would either be told to F*ck Off in no uncertain terms, or slapped, depending on the extent of the misdemeanour.
Good fun and common sense. The opposite of legislation, tribunals and political correctness.
Cheers
Pat
Maybe it helps that you are a solicitor, they know they can't mess with you
It's just the assumption that men never get sexually harassed is what pi**es me off.
I've been harassed by female bosses before (quite badly). But would anyone listen? Nope. (and trust me guys, unless you're name is vixpy1, you wouldn't of taken her up on her offer)
All this sh**e recently that says only women are victims of certain stuff is pretty pretty annoying. And stupid.
I've been harassed by female bosses before (quite badly). But would anyone listen? Nope. (and trust me guys, unless you're name is vixpy1, you wouldn't of taken her up on her offer)
All this sh**e recently that says only women are victims of certain stuff is pretty pretty annoying. And stupid.
hedders said:
Why is it that dealing with women is becoming more and more risky?
I don't think i would ever employ one or marry one, they own you as soon as you do !
>> Edited by hedders on Saturday 1st October 12:54
You have a beautiful car!
Do you use it regularly?
>> Edited by Marquis_Rex on Saturday 1st October 16:01
Dave Allen came up with this little gem on sexual equality, which made me laugh!
If you (male) sunbathed in the nude in your own garden and your female neighbour saw you from her window, she could ring the police and get you arrested for indecent exposure.
If, on the otherhand, your female neighbour sunbathed in the nude in her own garden and she spotted you looking from your window, she could ring the police and get you arrested for being a peeping Tom!!
and don't tell me that's not true!
If you (male) sunbathed in the nude in your own garden and your female neighbour saw you from her window, she could ring the police and get you arrested for indecent exposure.
If, on the otherhand, your female neighbour sunbathed in the nude in her own garden and she spotted you looking from your window, she could ring the police and get you arrested for being a peeping Tom!!
and don't tell me that's not true!
Marquis_Rex said:
You have a beautiful car!
Do you use it regularly?
ta very mcuh! Unfortunately I am not driving her at all at present due to the fact i had a bit of an accident in the car and then bought a house so I have had to park her up for the time being as I am broke!
She is a bit of a money pit...
R988 said:
Indeed VTEC, anyone who has gone into a factory environment employing mostly women knows all about intimidation.
Only person discriminated against these days, white - male - Christian - hetero - employed.
bollox
agreed!
with FIF that is.
Pesty working in electronics factories for over 15 years most of them with the majority of women staff.
Flat in Fifth said:
Indeed VTEC, anyone who has gone into a factory environment employing mostly women knows all about intimidation.
Only person discriminated against these days, white - male - Christian - hetero - employed.
What a complete pile of pooh.
EVERYBODY has as much chance of being discriminated against as the next person, because there is not one person in this world who does not have some kind of prejudice.
hedders said:
You have a beautiful car!
Do you use it regularly?
Unfortunately I am not driving her at all at present due to the fact i had a bit of an accident in the car and then bought a house so I have had to park her up for the time being as I am broke!
She is a bit of a money pit...
70mpg is a bit good......
The difficulty with this subject is that it is so open to abuse and to interpretation. I always tell prospective staff of all genders the type of enviroment they will be working in and the level of language etc the staff normally use. Everyone happy until one day I employ a girl who is great, works for almost a year and takes part in the work banter with aplomb. This is until she finds religion and then demands that no one swears tell risque jokes etc etc. How do you begin to change the behaviour of 50 people who are happy for one who is not being harrased at all but is now offended?
This went on and on until she became pregnant and left to look after the new born, we did everything by the book but it could have been so easyily classed as harresment and that we had failed to give her an enviroment so was happy with. Like many rules the intention is good the practicalities are impossible to meet if someone wants to use the law.
This went on and on until she became pregnant and left to look after the new born, we did everything by the book but it could have been so easyily classed as harresment and that we had failed to give her an enviroment so was happy with. Like many rules the intention is good the practicalities are impossible to meet if someone wants to use the law.
silversun said:
Only person discriminated against these days, white - male - Christian - hetero - employed.
Yes, a popular opinion on here - and complete rubbish.
Ok, so who would i complain to if I did not get a job because the company was trying to fill it's requirement for hiring immigrants , women or disabled people for example?
And would they do anything about it?
I once (don't ask) went for a bus driving job. I was smartly dressed with a neat hair style, I know the area, I speak 'proper' english and have pretty good numeracy skills and had a clean license with 15 years driving experience. I passed the entrance test in half the time allowed. I was not offered a position.
One of the (black) guys that was there had driving convictions, could not do sums and failed the entrance test after taking twice the allowed time to complete it. He was invited back to retake it, I would hope he got the answers right the second time...
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