Store signs equality and human rights pact for staff

Sainsbury’s is the latest company to sign a legally-binding document with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) after being found liable for sexual harassment against a member of staff.

The supermarket chain was ordered to pay £9,585 in damages to a former worker in August last year, after a tribunal ruled it failed to take reasonable steps after a male colleague threatened to rape her.

The equality watchdog said that the retailer has now signed an agreement under Section 23 of the Equality Act 2006 which requires it to take all reasonable steps to prevent its employees from committing harassment.

It includes preparing a discrimination guide for linemanagersandemployees, advising staff on how to deal with harassment, establishing more effective training for its workforce and providing regular reports to the EHRC on its progress.

Rebeccahilsenrath,chief executive of the EHRC, said: “Everyone deserves a safe working environment and today we all recognise that frontline workers, like those who kept supermarkets open during lockdown, fully deserve our respect and protection.

“We’re pleased to be working with Sainsbury’s and I hope that the improvements they have agreed to put in place will set the tone and standard for others to follow.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Safety is our highest priority and we do not tolerate harassment or abuse of any kind.

“We took immediate steps in 2016 to develop our training and processes and are committed to working closely with the EHRC.”