Harassment is any unwanted conduct that violates your dignity or creates a hostile and humiliating workplace. It doesn’t have to be intentional, and a single serious incident can be enough to file a complaint.
Victimisation is when your employer treats you differently because you made or supported a discrimination complaint. This could include being pushed out of your role or discounted for promotion.
This includes any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that either violates your dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. The victim can claim against either the abuser, the employer, or both in the same action.
Under the Equality Act 2010, there is a short 3 month minus one day limit to start ACAS early reconciliation.
Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, you can claim in the High Court or County Court which has a 6-year time limit.
If you have been subjected to psychological or physical harm you can claim personal injury claim where the court can extend the time.
Your employer has a positive legal duty to prevent sexual harassment from happening in the first place. If your employer has failed to create a safe working environment, that failure may strengthen your claims.
Managing Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution
Hal is the managing partner and head of dispute resolution. He has a wide range of expertise gained from over 30 years of experience in numerous areas of practice, including commercial and general litigation, inheritance disputes, employment, family law and immigration.
Partner and Head of Employment
Elliot is a seasoned litigator in the employment field, able to represent high profile clients in the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”), High Court and Court of Appeal. Elliot’s legal practice consists of all manner of Equality Act claims (discrimination, victimisation, harassment, equal pay etc) and whistleblowing claims including automatic unfair dismissal and detriment claims. He can also advise and represent in Unfair Dismissal, Wrongful Dismissal, Constructive Dismissal and Breach of Contract Claims.
