Encourage talk reluctant sexual harrassment

We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. You can find out more or opt-out from some cookies. Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act Read our advice on what to do if you're being harassed at work. The Act says this is also harassment.

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When an employee complains that he or she is experiencing sexual harassment of any type, the employer has a legal, ethical, moral, and employee relations obligation to investigate the charges thoroughly—without delay. If an employer hears rumors that sexual harassment is occurring, the employer must investigate the potential harassment the same as if they had received a formal complaint. These are examples of how seriously employers must take sexual and any other form of employee harassment that is or may be occurring in their workplace. As an HR staff person, one of the most common requests that will occur when you are approached by an employee to talk is that they want to tell you something, but you must first promise to keep it confidential.

Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit sexual overtones, including the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. Harassers or victims may be of any gender. In most modern legal contexts, sexual harassment is illegal. Laws surrounding sexual harassment generally do not prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or minor isolated incidents—that is due to the fact that they do not impose a "general civility code.