Scrase Law Employment Solicitors

Sexual harassment in the workplace – Employment law update on 22 January 2019

WITH MASTERCLASS ON AVOIDING AND DEALING WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

THE BARN AT BERKELEY – M5 (Junctions 13/14)

Following a number of high profile sexual harassment scandals and the highly publicised #MeToo movement, the issue of how to promote and protect equality in the workplace has been increasingly placed in the spotlight.  With recent guidance and recommendations being published by ACAS and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), it is perhaps more important than ever that employers get to grips with their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the steps that they need to take to protect employees from sexual harassment.  The EHRC have reported recently that, based on evidence they have collected, this is not happening.

Employers can be liable for their employees’ acts of harassment unless they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent the employee from carrying out those acts.  We will be giving practical guidance to employers and HR professionals on key issues concerning sexual harassment in the workplace, including how to take steps to avoid harassment occurring and best practice surrounding how to deal with allegations if they arise.

Delegates will then have full opportunity to build on their knowledge by discussing the practical aspects of dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace during our interactive workshop.  This will include case studies, based on issues that can arise on a day-to-day basis, guided by our team of specialist employment solicitors.

As usual we will also be examining the latest developments in employment law with an extensive round-up of recent case law.

Programme:

10.30 – Introduction

10.45 – Avoiding and dealing with allegations of harassment in the workplace – Rupert Scrase

  • What is sexual harassment in the workplace?
  • The employer’s liability for acts of harassment
  • Recent guidance and recommendations on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace
  • Responding to and dealing with allegations of sexual harassment
  • Practical steps that employers should be taking to protect employees in the workplace.

11.45 – Coffee

12.00 – Practical workshop – Sally Rogers

  • A great opportunity for interactive discussion with other HR professionals and our team of experienced employment solicitors
  • Using case studies, we will be exploring scenarios that can arise on a day-to-day basis involving sexual harassment and how these might be resolved in practice
  • Build on your knowledge and share your experience of best practice with other employers and HR professionals.

13.00 – Lunch

14.00 – Round-up of latest developments in employment law, including:

  • Parental bereavement leave and pay
  • Proposals in relation to ethnicity pay reporting and extending gender pay gap reporting
  • Taxation of termination payments
  • ACAS guidance on provision of references and suspension of employees
  • The return of Employment Tribunal fees?
  • Employment Tribunal reforms, including possible extension of time limits for claims and removal of the £25,000 limit for breach of contract claims

14.30 – Case law round-up, including:

  • What is a philosophical belief under the Equality Act?
  • Unfair dismissal case law update – including withholding evidence from a disciplinary panel, whether the right of appeal should always be offered and the effect of a successful appeal
  • Disability discrimination case law update – including employer’s knowledge of the disability and offers of part-time work
  • Liability of employers for an employee’s wrongdoing, including issues of misconduct outside work and data breach
  • Individual liability of decision makers in relation to whistleblowing dismissals

15.00 – Close

Booking information:

£140 plus VAT per delegate (includes lunch)

FREE for retainer clients of Scrase Employment Solicitors

Please contact us on 0117 985 1026 or info@scraselaw.com to book a place