A recent survey by Totaljobs has found that just over three quarters (76%) of UK employees want less physical contact in their jobs, and a number of workers want an absolute ban on certain types of physical interactions.
Survey Results
The research was undertaken by Opinium in March, who surveyed 2,002 UK workers aged between 18 and 65 years of age.
The majority of the people who took part in the survey, specified a handshake with roughly two seconds of direct eye contact, as their preferred type of work engagement. Whilst 27% of respondents wanted to ban kisses and 15% wanted to put an end to hugs in the workplace.
For those aged in their 40’s and 50’s nearly half (45%) of the respondents preferred handshakes. For those aged in their 20’s this percentage was reduced down to 35%, with 41% preferring no physical contact at all.
Additionally, 25% of the people who took part in the survey said that they would avoid a work colleague or customer due to the manner in which they greeted them and 30% of respondents specified that they experienced an awkward greeting at least once a month in their current employment.
Physical Contact At Work
At Nelsons, we advise employers to have in place clear guidance on physical contact at work and what is considered appropriate for employees, in an attempt to avoid causing potential employment law issues, such as sexual harassment claims. However, 15% of the respondents in this survey specified that they had not received any sort of guidance from their employer during the last 12 months in relation to this.
Sexual harassment can occur when a person engages in unwanted conduct related to sex, which has the purpose or effect of either violating another person’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for another person. Whilst each employee will have a different perception about what will and will not be acceptable to them, depending on the circumstances, physical contact at work could amount to sexual harassment. In addition, any unwelcome contact at work can be stressful for employees and may negatively affect their happiness at work and professional performance.
It is possible for employers to be found to be liable for acts of harassment carried out by their employees, unless they can demonstrate that they took all reasonable steps to prevent it. Therefore, it is vital for all employers to review their policies, procedures and training and to document the steps they have taken, so they best promote a culture which is suitable and acceptable to all of their employees.
How Nelsons Can Help
For further information or to comment on this article, please contact our employment law specialists in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.