Legitimate concerns over the Worker Protection Bill are being drowned out by some figures who seem happy to sacrifice staff safeguarding on the altar of ‘woke’ politics.
Protecting front-line workers from harassment and abuse is an ambition to be welcomed, and it is right that employers should take all reasonable steps to prevent such aggravation.
The Bill would take effect only where harassment relates to protected characteristics like race, sex or gender, so fears of a silencing of free speech are unfounded.
It does not mean that employees can sue for being offended. The employer is only liable if they haven’t taken reasonable steps to prevent the harassment. This could include clear messaging to customers, having a policy in place ready for when incidents occur, and intervening when harassment has occurred.
Retail workers, NHS employees and pub staff have a right to do their jobs without facing racism, sexist or homophobic abuse.
Forward-thinking employers are already doing their best to stop such behaviour among customers, and this Bill will ensure that all businesses take this responsibility seriously.
