With the Harvey Weinstein trial currently topping the news agenda, sexual harassment has never been more high profile.
But you don’t have to be in Hollywood to be affected. 
Example 1
Simona Simalyte was working at KFC in Newport when a male co-worker asked her out. She told him she already had a boyfriend, but her rejection led to an atmosphere of hostility between them. They didn’t get along and didn’t speak to each other, however, nothing was done about it.
In August 2017, ten months after she turned him down, the pair of them had a fight in the restaurant. Simona claimed her workmate assaulted her, and the police were called but no charges were made.
Simona went on sick leave and later resigned, while her colleague resigned the same day.
Simona made a claim to the employment tribunal that she was forced out of her job due to sexual discrimination, having been told “so what if someone fancies you”. She also claims that the hostility was persistent and amounted to harassment.
The case is being heard at Cardiff Magistrates Court. Some witnesses have produced evidence that Simona was the aggressor, and the employment judge is reserving judgment for a later date.
Example 2
Have you been pressured to consume alcohol at work events, to show that you fit in and socialise well?
If senior members of staff give you the sense that joining in will help secure your future career, it could be construed as workplace bullying or even sexual harassment.
That’s what’s happening to junior lawyers, according to a report published by the Law Society. Research from the International Bar Association shows that one in three female lawyers have allegedly been subject to workplace bullying and sexual harassment involving alcohol.
If you don’t drink alcohol for personal or religious reasons, it might mean you feel excluded from alcohol-fuelled events at work, or you might attend but choose to leave early. This could impact your business relationships with clients, opportunity to build bonds with your team, and impact your long-term career development.
The Law Society recommends that employers should do three things:
- Have a firm alcohol policy in place
- Replace events that involve alcohol (such as wine-tasting evenings) with sober activities such as pizza-making or escape rooms
- If an invitation mentions “drinks”, it should say that non-alcoholic options are also available.
What this means to you
Have you been subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace, whether fueled by alcohol or not? If so, you might be able to make a claim to the employment tribunal. Give us a call and we’ll advise.
Further reading
For more information on this subject, you might find our other articles useful:
- Sexual harassment at Google
- When is sexual harassment not sexual harassment?
- Bullying and harassment
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