I’ll bet you’ve heard this comment a few times: ”It was only a bit of friendly banter, boss!”
By Tracey Murphy, managing director, Sarah Booth HRHarassment is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 and is related to things like age, sex, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or pregnancy and maternity.
The tricky part is that it is not the intent of the perpetrator that matters, it is how it is received, not only by the person it is directed at, but to anyone else who may be in earshot.
If you think that a comment has made you feel even mildly uncomfortable and you are sucking air into your teeth then it is probably the wrong side of appropriateness.
If you are concerned about banter in your business then it may be worth considering some awareness training amongst all staff. Show them this article!
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