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Call for Evidence on Employer Responses to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

We encourage members to take part in the Fawcett Society’s call for evidence on sexual harassment in the workplace, particularly to make sure that freelance voices are heard.

Published: 12 January 2021 | 2:31 PM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:32 PM
Photograph of five women, all looking different from each other, walking through a field with their arms linked around each other.
The Fawcett Society want to understand what employer responses work well and what employers need to do differently in response to sexual harassment reports. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Fawcett Society has recently launched a call for evidence on employer responses to sexual harassment in the workplace.

They want to hear from women who have who have experienced workplace sexual harassment about how their employer responded and what they thought about the response.

They know that the process of reporting workplace sexual harassment can be painful and employer responses are often inadequate and inappropriate. They are seeking evidence from women who have gone through the process of reporting their experience to understand what employer responses work well and what employers need to do differently.

They will use this evidence to inform their understanding of what works in tackling workplace sexual harassment and to develop resources for employers that give them the tools and skills needed to combat sexual harassment in their workplace.

As the focus of this work is on employer responses – and the experience may have been traumatic – they will not ask respondents to recount the actual experience. Rather, the questions will focus on their employer’s actions and suggestions for how employers can better support their employees.

This work is part of Fawcett’s Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace project that they are running with Chwarae Teg, Close the Gap and Women’s Resource and Development Agency, funded by Rosa through Time’s Up Justice and Equality Fund.

Contributions from MU members will help to ensure that the voices of freelance workers are represented alongside those on payroll. We would also be grateful if you could share the call for evidence on your social media channels and amongst your networks.

Find out more and access the survey on the Fawcett Society’s website now.

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