New law spells the end of the office joke

London: Draconian new equality laws could spell the end of the office joke.

Ministers announced on Friday that the vast bulk of Labour's controversial Equality Act would be implemented immediately, despite concerns about its impact on business and office life.

The legislation, championed by Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman, introduces a bewildering range of rights which allow staff to sue for almost any perceived offence they receive in the workplace.

It creates the controversial legal concept of ‘third party harassment', under which workers will be able to sue over jokes and banter they find offensive — even if the comments are aimed at someone else and they weren't there at the time the comments were made.

They can sue if they feel the comments "violate their dignity" or create an "intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment".

A one-off incident is enough to sue — there is no need for the ‘victim' to have warned the perpetrator that their comments are unwelcome. They could even have a case against their employer if a customer or contractor says something they find offensive.

One critic suggested employers could have to outlaw office banter to prevent offending anyone.

Recovery at threat

And business leaders warned that the equality laws could derail Britain's economic recovery, with fears that employers will face a tidal wave of trivial discrimination claims.

Tory MP Philip Davies said the decision to press ahead with Labour's Equality Act showed the "politically correct consensus is still alive and well in Government."

"This is Harman's politically correct legacy, full of stuff that is completely barmy to most people. It will be the end of the office joke. It is a charter for lawyers and people who want to make vexatious complaints that will tie employers up in knots," Davies said.

"I have no doubt it will accelerate the increase in the number of employment tribunals — there is all sorts of nonsense for people with a grudge to get stuck into," he added.

"At a time when we are trying to encourage employers to take more people on, the last thing they need is this albatross round their necks."