Sexual harassment claims against Transport Scotland employees: FOI release

Information requested

• How many allegations of sexual harassment/assault/misconduct have been made against employees or staff of Transport Scotland?

• How many claims of unfair treatment (relating to gender or sexual harassment) under the equality act were made against employees or staff of Transport Scotland?

• Details of how the above two bullet points were resolved – for example, how many were referred on to an employment tribunal, or to police? How many resulted in warnings or termination of employment?

• What is Transport Scotland’s official guidance for dealing with allegations of a sexual nature, both in offices and on sites? How are they dealt with, for example, on construction sites involving subcontractors?

Response

• There have been no allegations of sexual harassment/assault/misconduct made against employees or staff of Transport Scotland.
• There have been no claims of unfair treatment (relating to gender or sexual harassment) under the equality act made against employees or staff of Transport Scotland.
• No resolutions were required.
• Transport Scotland uses Scottish Government HR policies, and complaints relating to sexual harassment should be raised directly with named HR contacts, as set out in the Scottish Government’s Fairness at Work policy. A Route Map has been developed to show the various ways a complaint relating to sexual harassment might be raised, and the most appropriate routes for handling a complaint. HR may instigate a formal investigation into any allegations of sexual harassment as a matter of serious misconduct under the conduct and discipline policy. However, if the complaint is about a contractor or temporary member of staff, HR will support the member of staff and where required will alert the contractor or temporary worker’s employer to investigate through their procedures.

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