THE TUC slammed the Tories today for backtracking on laws to protect workers from sexual harassment, after a survey found three in 10 people have suffered sexually inappropriate behaviour from colleagues.

The Censuswide poll of 2,000 workers revealed “toxic cultures” in many workplaces, with 31 per cent of women and 26 per cent of men saying they had suffered abuse – with senior staff mainly to blame.

Unwanted attention included groping, stroking, inappropriate comments and threats that it would harm their career if they did not return sexual advances, the research for the Barrister Group said.

Those on the receiving end said they felt violated, intimidated, ashamed, degraded and scared, but many did not complain because they feared it would harm their career, it added.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Every woman should be safe from sexual harassment and abuse.

“But in the last few weeks alone, we’ve heard reports of women facing sexual harassment in hospitality, in the entertainment industry and in the army. 

“We know that most women – especially young women, women on insecure contracts and black minority ethnic women –experience harassment or abuse at work.

“But most don't report it for fear of not being believed, or harming their career prospects. 

“Sexual harassment and bullying have no place in modern workplaces, or in wider society.  

“Ministers promised to bring in a new law to put the onus on employers keep their staff safe from this type of abuse.

“But instead, they backtracked under pressure from Tory backbenchers and watered down the legislation, letting down working women across the country – yet again.” 

Unions and women’s groups in May warned the government not to abandon legislation on workplace sexual harassment in the Worker Protection Bill.

Two months later Conservative backbenchers pushed the government to amend the Bill so employers are no longer liable for the harassment of their employees by third parties. 

Another amendment changed the requirement on employers to take “reasonable steps” rather than “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment.

Dr Anna Loutfi, an employment barrister with The Barrister Group, said despite hopes the #MeToo movement would be a watershed moment for a wider conversation about what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour, the fact that sexual harassment “is still so prevalent in the workplace is hugely disappointing.”