Woman have won greater legal protection against sexual harassment at work.
A High Court judgment means employers will in future be required to protect female staff from unwanted advances from customers and clients as well as colleagues.
Among those most likely to benefit are women working in hotels, restaurants, estate agencies, bars and shops and other jobs where there is regular contact with members of the public.
The ruling also means more job protection during pregnancy. Bosses will be compelled to consult women whose job alters when they are on maternity leave, while rules banning discrimation against pregnant staff will be strengthened.
The commission argued that the UK version of the European rules was not as tough as the Brussels version and that, in some cases, raised doubts about existing rights won through British case law.
clipped from: www.thisislondon.co.uk