Sexual Harassment in Local Government

Sexual harassment in the workplace is unlawful and can cause significant harm to those who experience it. It can also be costly for employers, exposing them to legal liability and increasing staff turnover.

Under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, employers must take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sexual harassment in their workplaces.

We examined whether councils provide their staff and councillors with workplaces free from sexual harassment.

We looked at:

• the prevalence and nature of sexual harassment in councils
• councils’ policies, training and communication
• the effectiveness of councils’ complaint handling.