Preventing and tackling sexual harassment at work.
Case reference FOI2026/00118
Received 30 January 2026
Published 6 February 2026
Request
I am writing to make a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please can you provide UNISON with the following information about what steps your council as an employer takes to be proactive and systematic in preventing and tackling sexual harassment at work.
1) Does your council have a policy on sexual harassment in the workplace?
a. Yes - Please attach a copy of this policy or a copy of a document that includes a policy and procedures on this.
b. No – Please explain why?
2) If you answered yes to question 1, are local authority-maintained schools required to adhere to the same policy?
a. Yes
b. No
3) Does your council have training initiatives in place to address and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?
a. Yes - Is the training provided:
1. To all employees? Yes/No
2. To managers on how to support staff who have reported workplace sexual harassment? Yes/No
b. No – Please explain why.
4) If you answered yes to question 2:
a. Is the training delivered:
1. Online
2. In person
3. Hybrid
b. Please provide details about who delivers the training on sexual harassment.
5) For 2023, 2024 and 2025 calendar years, please provide the number of recorded formal and informal complaints made about sexual harassment allegedly perpetrated by council employees against other employees broken down by:
a. Gender of claimant and alleged perpetrator
b. The nature of the allegations for example:
1. Unwelcome verbal/banter of a sexual nature
2. Unwelcome physical advances of a sexual nature.
3. Sexual assault
c. The number of formal and informal complaints that led to the perpetrator
being:
1. Given a warning.
2. Suspended
3. Dismissed
4. Other – please state.
d. The number of formal and informal complaints that to your knowledge have been referred to:
1. The police for criminal investigation?
2. The appropriate professional registration body. e, g Social Work England?
Response
1) Does your council have a policy on sexual harassment in the workplace?
a. Yes – attached.
2) If you answered yes to question
1, are local authority-maintained schools required to adhere to the same policy?
b. No – The Council has no responsibility for local authority-maintained schools.
3) Does your council have training initiatives in place to address and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?
Yes, provided to managers and staff. This includes signposting managers and staff to obtain additional support.
4) If you answered yes to question 2:
a. Is the training delivered:
eLearning resource.
b. Please provide details about who delivers the training on sexual harassment
eLearning resource and additional support provided by Human Resources,
5) For 2023, 2024 and 2025 calendar years, please provide the number of recorded formal and informal complaints made about sexual harassment allegedly perpetrated by council employees against other employees broken down by:
|
|
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
a. Gender of claimant and alleged perpetrator
|
0 |
0 |
1complaint Male/male |
|
b. The nature of the allegations for example: 1. Unwelcome verbal/banter of a sexual nature 2. Unwelcome physical advances of a sexual nature. 3. Sexual assault
|
N/A |
N/A |
Unwelcome verbal/banter of a sexual nature |
|
c. The number of formal and informal complaints that led to the perpetrator being: 1. Given a warning. 2. Suspended 3. Dismissed 4. Other – please state.
|
N/A |
N/A |
Suspended
|
|
d. The number of formal and informal complaints that to your knowledge have been referred to: 1. The police for criminal investigation? 2. The appropriate professional registration body. e, g Social Work England
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
Documents
This is South Derbyshire District Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.