What sexual harassment means in residential care work

In Great Britain, sexual harassment at work is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. In care homes, calling behaviour "a joke" or "banter" does not make it acceptable.

The effect on the person who experiences the conduct is what matters. Context also matters: the same comment from a peer can feel very different when it comes from a manager, trainer, senior nurse, or experienced colleague who controls shifts, supervision, or career progression.

Examples in residential care work

• Verbal behaviour: sexual comments, jokes, teasing, repeated remarks about appearance, or intrusive questions about someone's body, relationships, or sex life.
• Non-verbal behaviour: staring, leering, sexual gestures, suggestive messages, or sharing sexualised content.
• Physical behaviour: unwanted touching, hugging, cornering, brushing against someone, or blocking their way.
• Misuse of authority: implying that shifts, support, appraisals, training, or favourable treatment depend on accepting sexualised behaviour.
• Digital behaviour: messages, work-chat posts, emojis, memes, late-night contact, or sexual comments on social media linked to work relationships.

Management duty and the prevention standard

Sexual harassment is defined by unwanted sexual conduct and its effect, not only by what the other person says they meant. In care homes, comments, gestures, touching, messages, and misuse of authority can all cross the line.