A new campaign launched yesterday (October 25th) by Labour MP Jess Phillips aptly named Not The Job, which invites women to share their stories of sexual harassment in the workplace with the aim of bringing about a change in culture and the law.

A group of female employees from Google are currently advancing a class-action lawsuit in California around pay discrimination, a day after The New York Times published an investigation revealing that the firm had paid a $90m severance package to a top executive whilst concealing details of a sexual misconduct against him.

Sir Philip Green has been named under parliamentary privilege as the ‘top businessman’ in a sexual harassment case where five employees had signed Non-Disclosure Agreements after settlements were made. The injunction cost Green £500,000 which marks a dangerous precedent that those with power and money can conceal cases and complaints against their conduct.

In 2013, a provision of the Equality Act 2010 was repealed, meaning if you are harassed by a customer or client, you have fewer legal rights”

UK law currently states that employees have the right to be protected from sexual harassment at their place of work, regardless of the perpetrator. In 2013, a provision of the Equality Act 2010 was repealed, meaning if you are harassed by a customer or client, you have fewer legal rights. The campaign, with its collated stories from women all over the country, hopes to bring about change in this legislation to protect all workers with the same rights.

‘Still just a bit of banter?’, a study by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 2016, found that more than half of the women polled have experience some form of sexual harassment, with a staggering four out of five women not reporting the incident to their employer.

Research from the Women and Equalities Committee report suggests that certain groups in society are more at risk from sexual harassment, for example, women aged 18 to 24, employees with a long-term illness or disability or members of a sexual minority group. Those working freelance or on zero-hours contracts are at a greater risk of being affected with workers from the retail, catering, hospitality, healthcare and transport sectors amongst the worst affected. So, what can be done about it?

… more than half of the women polled have experience some form of sexual harassment, with a staggering four out of five women not reporting the incident to their employer”

With so few women in the print and signage industries, it is important that employers take steps to ensure these women feel safe, whether it is with fellow colleagues in the workplace or out and about meeting clients. Outlining a clear policy that sexual harassment will not be tolerated and a complaints route that can be made in confidence without jeopardising the victim’s job, is the first step businesses can take to tackle this. Operating a zero-tolerance policy and making other employees aware of the policy can help to dispel wrongful behaviour.

It is easy for us to be aware of the issues, but it is much more difficult for us to address them. The campaign allows contributors to remain anonymous but moving forward the hope is that women will not have to suffer in silence for fear of jeopardising their jobs.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, you can submit your story to the campaign, email me anonymously at summer@linkpublishing.co.uk or reach out Twitter to have your say.

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