Paying for plastic bags - what about the employees?
04 | 10 | 2011
Louise Price, partner in the Hugh
James employment law and HR services group has been answering
questions about one of the hidden aspects of the introduction of
the charges for plastics bags. Introduced in Wales with effect from
Saturday 1 October, this raises concerns for employers, whose
employees are having to deal with disgruntled customers unhappy
about having to pay for plastic bags.
Louise has appeared on Radio Wales
to talk about the issues this raises for employers, including in
particular the threat of claims due to the fact that employers have
a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to protect employees from
harassment by third parties i.e. customers. If an employee is
harassed by customers who use language that is discriminatory -
sexist, racist, homophobic or offensively focuses on the employee's
age, disability or religious beliefs and this happens more than
twice, the employer is vulnerable to a claim if it has not taken
reasonable steps to prevent the harassment.