Employers will shortly have a new duty to prevent violence and harassment in the workplace as part of an international agreement on labour rights signed by the government. The UK became the eleventh country to ratify the International Labour Organization’s Violence and Harassment Convention which, when it comes into force on 7th March 2023, will create a duty on employers to protect employees from all forms of harassment, including from third parties such as customers or clients.
The convention is designed to protect employees “irrespective of their contractual status”, which means it will also cover interns, job applicants, apprentices, and those whose employment has been terminated. It will also apply in all areas of work, including on work trips, in break room facilities, virtual meetings, and during commuting.
