Boards of Management should be aware of the requirements of the Employment Equality Act, 1977, the Department of Equality and Law Reform Code of Practice, 1994, entitled “Measures to Protect the Dignity of Women and Men at Work” and the Employment Equality Act, 1998 in relation to bullying and harassment in the workplace. The 1998 Act defines sexual harassment for the first time in Irish law. It outlaws all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment, in the workplace and in the course of employment, and it places an obligation on the employer to take all reasonable steps to ensure a harassment free environment.
ACCS, ASTI, IMPACT and TUI have developed Codes of Practice for dealing with Complaints of Bullying and Harassment of Staff and of Sexual Harassment of Staff in Community and Comprehensive Schools. These codes should be formally adopted by Boards of Management and designated “contact persons” appointed accordingly. It is the responsibility of the Board of Management to ensure that all staff members are aware of these Codes of Practice and of the complaints procedures contained in them.
ACCS, ASTI, TUI have also developed:
- agreed procedures for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment of teachers by students and
- a complaints procedure for dealing with complaints by parents or students over 18 years against teachers.
All of these agreements are available from ACCS or on the ACCS website at www.accs.ie.