The dizzying array of regulatory requirements facing UK businesses is about to increase, with new ‘failure to prevent fraud’ duties in force in September and the proposed duty to prevent sexual harassment. In this week’s NLJ, Kerry Garcia, partner and head of employment, immigration & pensions, and James Evison, partner, at Stevens & Bolton, offer some practical steps for employers.
Garcia and Evison note that the incoming duties (bearing in mind the duty to prevent sexual harassment is currently a provision in the Employment Rights Bill) ‘signify a major shift in corporate governance’. They build on existing duties to prevent bribery, tax evasion and illegal working, and come amid increasing willingness on the part of the government to crack down on non-compliance.
The authors write: ‘Achieving these laudable aims through new regulatory measures and increased compliance action will place additional burdens on business—even those with a good track record on these issues. There is a clear tension between the government’s aim of driving behavioural change for businesses and, at the same time, its hope that those businesses will generate UK economic growth.’
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8113
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Categories:
Legal News
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Regulatory
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Commercial
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Employment
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Fraud
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Governance
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Harassment
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