The Bare Necessities of Employment Law

Kerry Curd is a solicitor with Slee Blackwell. Kerry assists both employers and employees with their employment disputes and can be contacted on 01271 372128.

The Bare Necessities of Employment Law

What would you do if you arrived at a job interview to find your potential boss ready to conduct the interview stark naked?

Well, when this actually happened a few weeks ago, the female candidate made a complaint and the boss landed himself with 3 years on probation and a place on the sex offenders’ register.

If you had spent time preparing questions, battling nerves and shining your shoes the night before, you might feel justified in objecting to your greeter’s lack of attire. Others however might regard you as a killjoy, considering this to be a funny practical joke.

Of course we are all different and whilst some of us giggle at the naughty e-mail that is sent around the office, others are offended by it.

Employers are finding that as we become more aware of our employment rights, seemingly harmless office banter and light hearted emails are putting them at risk of a claim for sex discrimination in the Employment Tribunal. Unfortunately this means that employers need to curb inappropriate behaviour and practical jokes in case an employee construes them as offensive. We need balance. We do not want our working environments to become dull places where people are afraid to show their personalities, but we do need to be sure that nobody feels threatened or harassed by other people’s actions.

It is undoubtedly difficult for employers, especially the smaller ones, to strike the right balance. However, it is important for bosses to keep these changes in perspective and to retain their sense of humour; along with their clothes.