Sexual harassment court cases 'tip of the iceberg'

Published on Saturday 10 June 2006 00:24

A SUCCESSFUL sexual harassment case is brought in employment tribunals across Britain each week, according to a new report.

The Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland said sexual harassment remained all too common exactly 20 years after a landmark case established it as a form of harassment under the Sex Discrimination Act.

The figures are only "the tip of the iceberg", according to today's report, with many more women refusing to report incidents for fear of losing their jobs.

The landmark hearing 20 years ago involved school worker Jean Porcelli who won a case against Strathclyde Regional Council after she experienced a campaign of harassment from two male colleagues. "It disheartens me that sexual harassment still happens," Ms Porcelli said. "I can certainly understand why so many women are reluctant to come forward.

"Despite changing jobs, I was labelled a troublemaker until the resulting stress and ill- health prompted me to take early retirement."

Jenny Watson, chairwoman of the EOC, said: "Twenty years on from Jean Porcelli's landmark case, sexual harassment is still an issue causing women stress, health problems and financial penalties when they leave their jobs to avoid it.

"We suspect cases coming to our attention are the tip of the iceberg. It is important for women to know what they can do to tackle harassment and for employers to know how they can help stamp it out in the workplace."