A new law in the United Kingdom will protect employees from sexual harassment beyond just coworkers and bosses, now extending to “customers, suppliers and others they encounter in the course of their work,” according to a story in the UK’s Guardian. Well, technically the punishment still goes to employers if they are aware of the harassment but fail to do anything about it, but the key here is that employees are now protected.

Beginning April 6th, employers must take reasonable steps to curb harassment if they are aware that at least two incidents had already occurred. As Stuart Chamberlain, an employment law expert, told the Guardian, “Shops or bars may be able to put up notices explaining that staff harassment is not tolerated. However, professional services companies who encourage staff to socialize with clients may find it difficult to convey that message.”

The article describes a related study:

A Canadian study of retail workers 10 years ago found that a majority had been sexually harassed by customers in their job but were reluctant to confront them or complain because the work environment emphasized customer satisfaction. They were likely instead to avoid male customers and be less friendly, which could affect their job performance.

The law came about after a ruling that the British government wasn’t doing enough to protect workers from “any unwanted conduct related to their sex which violates their dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”