UK Pubs Will Have to Employ ‘Banter Bouncers’ Under Labour’s Plans to ‘Protect’ Workers From Overhearing ‘Offensive’ Conversations

 Last year, the Free Speech Union led the charge against the Worker Protection Bill, a private members’ bill that would have extended employers’ liability for harassment of their employees to third parties, i.e., members of the public. 

Among other things, it would have meant the owners of pubs, bars and restaurant having to employ ‘banter cops’ to police their customers lest a member of staff overhear a conversation that upsets them. 

In effect, the Bill would have turbo-charged the Equality Act, imposing eye-watering compliance costs on owners of hospitality businesses and having a chilling effect on free speech. We succeeded up to a point and the Worker Protection Act, when it eventually received Royal Assent, only extended employers’ liability to third party sexual harassment, not any other form....<<<Read More>>>....