Harassment of women widespread in the night-time economy, report finds

A report by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust published on Tuesday (November 8) has found high levels of “violent, aggressive, sexual and unwanted behaviours” against employees working or on their way to work.

The charity says more than 40 per cent of women had experienced harassment while working in the night-time economy. And most do not report their experiences because of “a lack of faith” in both employers and the police to tackle these behaviours and take complaints seriously.

It wants to see a “robust legislative framework” put in place to help shift the “pervasive culture of abuse within the night-time economy”.

A YouGov survey conducted by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and supported by the employee protection services provider Peoplesafe for National Personal Safety Day 2022, found that women were more likely than men to have experienced harassment within or on their way to their workplace – with 44 per cent of women having experienced harassment compared with 26 per cent of men.

In the majority of all reported cases of harassment (83 per cent), the perpetrator was a man.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust says these statistics highlight the “shocking prevalence of violence against women and girls within the workplace”.

Of the 1,768 night-time economy workers surveyed, one third (34 per cent) had experienced some form of unwanted behaviour while working, or on their way to work, and 15 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment (28 per cent of women).

Of respondents who had been harassed, 60 per cent had never reported their experiences to their employer, commonly citing a lack of faith that action would be taken.

Likewise, three quarters of respondents who had been harassed while working or travelling to work in the night-time economy had not reported their experiences to the police.

The charity says these findings highlight the need for employers to take all reasonable steps to combat harassment within the workplace and for urgent legislative change to criminalise and prevent such unwanted behaviours, both in the workplace and in public spaces.

Suky Bhaker, chief executive officer of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: “We are extremely concerned by the findings of our research, which demonstrate that harassment of night-time economy workers is widespread and under-reported, with women being more likely to experience harassment than men.

“Testimonies from victims indicated a lack of faith in both employers and the police to tackle these behaviours and take reports seriously. This is not good enough.

“We urge the Government and employers to take all reasonable steps to stamp out workplace harassment via a robust legislative framework, policy and support to help shift the pervasive culture of abuse within the night-time economy.

“Every employee deserves to be free from violence, aggression and harassment.”

The charity says legislative change is urgently needed to make public sexual harassment a standalone offence.

Based on the findings of its report, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust has made a series of policy recommendations, including:

• Government support for the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill that would legislate for a preventative duty and require employers to take all reasonable steps to stop workplace sexual harassment while also protecting women from sexual harassment from third parties;
• The Government should work with specialist services to ensure there is a national framework on tackling harassment that can be implemented within businesses;
• Urgent government ring-fenced funding for women and girls’ safety on public transport across the UK, and continued funding for safer public spaces, such as through the Safer Streets Fund. Transport services must also provide regular, safe routes home from work, such as 24-hour transport systems;
• Government and employers should collect and publish data on the prevalence of workplace harassment, including sexual harassment, and the impact on those who experience it to support more victims; and
• Employers to publish their personal safety policy.

Naz Dossa, Peoplesafe chief executive officer and BSIA chair of the Lone Working Group, says: “A decisive, legislative response to this issue is long overdue. We need to finally shift the dial on the importance of employee personal safety and are collectively calling on employers and government to work together to achieve a step-change in how working people are protected.

“Our own Peoplesafe research, commissioned earlier this year, found that harassment, in particular verbal and physical abuse, is all too common across every industry sector, with significant gender difference – 27 per cent of male employees experience harassment, rising to 38 per cent for female employees.

“This problem is clearly not confined to the night-time economy sector and the message is clear. All employers, across the board, should now very seriously consider the need to go beyond existing legal requirement and tick-box compliance to provide the level of safety and peace of mind that is a basic employee right.”

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse added: “Everyone has a right to feel safe in their workplace and the work that the Suzy Lamplugh Trust does to help ensure this is vital.

“Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go to ensure that the problem is eradicated.

“What is needed is a culture shift so our understanding of acceptable behaviour ensures that staff at all places of work are safe. Notably in the night-time economy, where workers are potentially more vulnerable, protections must be especially stringent.

“My Private Members’ Bill recently passed its Second Reading in the House. It aims to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace by forcing employers to ensure that their workplaces are safe. This Bill, alongside the work of organisations like the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, I hope will start the culture shift we desperately need.”