From the discussion on TalkTV today (just before half past eight this morning):
https://youtu.be/J1hwJlM-wSI?t=6964
The Chief Legal Counsel of the Free Speech Union believes that in order to comply with the law that is due to be passed in days toward Royal Assent, every single company could become liable for the conduct of patrons and customers toward their employees. In turn, employees could sue their employers. And as a response, companies will introduce a Code of Conduct applicable to everyone including patrons and customers.
Toby Young from the Free Speech Union uses the term "banter bouncers" to describe the same thing.
The concept that in order to enter a store, pub, gym, any other establishment or use a service, you are going to be bound by a Code of Conduct. That could soon become a reality in the UK. It's not just websites and FOSS projects any more.
Ok this is confusing, so does this bill basically means if you act an ass or LOOK like you will act an ass inside a business, then they can bar you from entry or does this extend to simply voicing an opinion publicly, no violence or behavioural intimidation, inside a business.
If it's the former, that's no shirt, no shoes no service rules that should have been privately enforced forever but if it includes the latter then this can easily apply to those that do 'activism' like those gay activitists targeting Christian businesses since they can have a code of conduct stopping that.
So this might be another Pandora's box of trying to change rules to hurt your 'enemy' to find they adapted and now using it against you.
Officially 1st while less than scrupulous assholes with do 2nd while saying they do 1st.
Yes it does. Every employer will have additional legal requirements to protect their employees from things such as sexual harassment and offence, in addition to things that are already in law. And we all know from the "gym creep" trend recently that sexual harassment could include staring and being in someone's presence who does not want you there. Also bear in mind that the perception of what is offensive is taken from what "the victim feels". More likely to be used against those who state that a woman is an adult human female.
Effectively, businesses will become very risk averse to avoid being sued. Which means policing behaviour not of just the employees but the customers and patrons as well.