New laws coming into force tomorrow to protect workers from being sexually harassed by customers have been slammed by pub landlords as “political correctness gone mad”.
Godfrey Page, from Dover, is the chairman of the Guild of Master Victuallers, which represents 400 pubs nationally – of which about half are in Kent.
Mr Page is dismayed at the introduction of the new rules, which he says will be impossible to enforce when it comes to barmaids.
He said bar staff and landlords were more than capable of handling most awkward customers, without the need for more red tape.
“Landlords already have enough to worry about with stopping people smoking, keeping underage drinkers out and preventing drug dealing,” he said.
“Now, he faces potentially massive fines if a customer calls his barmaid ‘luv’. It’s crazy and I just don’t understand it.”
Under the new regulations, staff will be able to seek damages from employers if they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent them being harassed by a third party.
Women and Equalities Minister Harriet Harman was able to introduce the rules as amendments to the EU’s Equal Treatment Directive – without going before Parliament.
That was because the High Court ruled last year that existing sex discrimination law in the UK was not strong enough to meet the demands of the European Equal Treatment Directive.
The directive says workers should not be “subjected to any conduct related to their sex, which violates their dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment”.
Mr Page said: “Most of the time, I think the bar staff themselves are able to handle situations if they look like going too far by putting down the awkward customer – often to the mirth of their friends.
“It is just silly to suggest barmaids need any more protection – they do a brilliant job at keeping the peace and ensuring everything works as it should.
“They are the best-placed person to deal with problems, and if they can’t, the landlords can.”
It is feared landlords will bear the brunt of any fines or compensation claims from the new sex discrimination laws.
Andrew Aves, from Canterbury, is the Kent regional organiser for the Federation of Small Businesses.
He said: “Who dreams this stuff up – which planet do they come from?
“This is political correctness gone mad, it is a complete and total lack of reality.”
Mr Aves added: “The pub is a popular place for people to relax and enjoy themselves. Any responsible landlord will look after their staff and not tolerate improper behaviour.
“One thing that you are not allowed to have these days is common sense – it seems to be totally outlawed.”
Stuart Chamberlain, an employment law specialist at London-based Consult GEE, suggested that landlords should put up warning signs.
The Government’s Commission for Equality and Human Rights said it would monitor the enforcement of the laws. A spokesman told KOS Media: “When employers know harassment is going on they are in a position to do something about it.”
POSTED: 05/04/2008 08:00:00
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: