
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.’