Harassment hotline at Lloyd’s of London was switched off for nearly two years

‘We are disappointed by this failure of our internal controls which reminds us of the need for vigilance’

A HARASSMENT hotline meant to protect Lloyd’s of London staff was switched off for almost two years, heaping further embarrassment on the insurance market as it battles to recover from a sexism scandal.

The whistle-blowing line did not work between October 2017 and February this year – sparking demands from regulators at the Bank of England for Lloyd’s to overhaul the way it treats complaints. It piles pressure on the beleaguered business, which unveiled a string of new rules in March after female staff said Lloyd’s was a “meat market” where they were judged on looks and rated for their “shagability”.

The hotline was a key way for 1,000 employees of Lloyd’s to anonymously raise concerns. It is separate to a bullying hotline set up this year. One source said the problem started when an external supplier operating the line was not replaced after its contract ended in 2017.

An annual report on whistle-blowing was also not produced. Although Lloyd’s staff still had alternative whistle-blowing options in the 16 months to February 2019, such as via email, it is believed that no reports were made during this period.

A Lloyd’s spokesman said: “We are extremely disappointed by this failure in our internal controls which serves to remind us all about the need for constant vigilance.”