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TimeTo guide helps industry leaders better protect their staff from sexual harassment
The open-source guide has been designed to help senior leaders and businesses comply with the Workers Protection Act.
Georgie Moreton
Deputy Editor, BITE CreativebriefTimeTo, the initiative tackling sexual harassment in advertising, has launched an open-source guide designed to help senior leaders and businesses better protect their staff from sexual harassment.
The guide will help businesses to comply with the Workers Protection Act and proactively protect staff at industry events. It includes clear, practical advice for attendees on staying safe.
Through both practical advice and guidance, the open-source resource has been designed to help organisations prepare, act and protect people before problems arise.
While the issue of sexual harassment in the advertising industry is no secret, awareness of the law remains worryingly low. With Christmas party season on the horizon and conference and awards season looming, TimeTo’s new guide is much needed amid a culture of fear, apathy and questionable behaviour.
Designed for businesses of all sizes, the guide covers:
• How senior leaders can proactively protect staff and set clear expectations
• What bystanders can do in the moment to intervene safely
• How anyone can be an effective ally, regardless of role or seniority
The Worker Protection Act 2023 amends the Equality Act 2010, has recently been updated with a new legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees. If an employer fails to meet this duty, employment tribunals will have the power to increase compensation awards by up to 25% in discrimination claims - this uplift could be significant, especially as compensation awarded in the most serious cases of sexual harassment can exceed £50,000.
TimeTo’s guide not only helps businesses to keep their employees safe, but will ensure they fall in line with the updated legal regulations.
The onus is on the industry to ensure whether it’s in an office, online, at a client meeting or at an industry event or festival, no one should have to work in an environment which breeds or allows unwanted sexual attention, behaviour, or abuse of power.
Placing the industry on leaders to build a culture of respect, TimeTo is striving to create a safer industry for all.
For more information, please click here.
Signposting for those affected by sexual harassment
Support lines and sites:
If you think you’ve been sexually harassed, witnessed sexual harassment, have been wrongfully accused or fear you may have behaved inappropriately and want to talk to someone confidentially call NABS, the advertising, media and marketing industry charity:
NABS Support email: [email protected]
NABS contact number: 0800 707 6607 (open weekdays between 9am-5:30pm; callback service available)
Specialist sexual harassment support from NABS: https://nabs.org.uk/advice/sexual-harassment/
timeTo is the campaign to eradicate sexual harassment in the advertising and marketing industry:
Code of conduct: https://timeto.org.uk/app/uploads/2022/03/Code-of-Conduct.pdf
Toolkit: https://timeto.org.uk/endorser-toolkit/
Training: https://timeto.org.uk/training/
The Survivors’ Trust is a national membership organisation supporting specialist rape and sexual abuse services: https://thesurvivorstrust.org/
Safeline is a specialist charity that works to prevent sexual violence and abuse and support those affected to cope and recover: https://safeline.org.uk/ / 0044 1926 402 498
Victim Support helps everyone affected by crime: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/crime-info/types-crime/sexual-harassment/ / 0044 808 168 9111
Rape Crisis England & Wales is the feminist charity working to end sexual violence and abuse: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/types-of-sexual-violence/what-is-sexual-harassment/ / 0044 808 500 2222 - 24hr Support Line
Mind is a UK based mental health charity, this page provides support options for those affected by abuse: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/abuse/
Advice and signposting from the Metropolitan Police: https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rsa/rape-and-sexual-assault/support-for-victims-of-rape-and-sexual-assault/
Drinkaware is an independent charity which aims to reduce alcohol-related harm by helping people make better choices about their drinking: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk
Mind is a UK based mental health charity, this page provides a list of organisations who offer support for recreational drug and alcohol addiction, including organisations who can help if you are supporting someone else: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/recreational-drugs-alcohol-and-addiction/drug-and-alcohol-addiction-useful-contacts/
Equality Advisory Support Service - All forms of discrimination - Helpline: 0800 800 0082
Switchboard LGBTQ+ Advice - Information and referral line: 0300 330 0630
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