No place for Love

All employers face compensation claims if customers ogle their staff or use inappropriate language and the employer does not take reasonable steps to prevent it.

The new sex discrimination regulations say that bosses are responsible for protecting their staff from sexual harassment by customers.

The laws also mean that owners who allow loud sexist jokes or banter among customers could be taken before a tribunal and face unlimited compensation claims.

For example, a pub landlord could be sued if a bar worker complains about being called “love”, customers telling each other off-colour jokes, or backchat from diners or guests asking for a date.