Retailers displaying 'lads' mags' could face discrimination claims

A number of leading human rights lawyers have called on supermarkets and other retailers to withdraw 'lads' mags' from their stores. The magazines typically feature scantily-clad women on their covers.  In an open letter to The Guardian the lawyers claim that exposing staff to such publications may constitute sexual harassment and sex discrimination contrary to the Equality Act 2010.

The letter states "...Every mainstream retailer which stocks lads' mags is vulnerable to legal action by staff and, where those publications are visibly on display, by customers. There are, in particular, examples of staff successfully suing employers in respect of exposure to pornographic material at work. such exposure is actionable where it violates the dignity of individual employees or customers, or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. We therefore call on such retailers to urgently heed the call to Lose the Lads' Mags"

A full copy of the letter can be found below:--

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/may/27/lose-lads-mags-risk-legal-action