Celebrity Chef Dan Doherty has been found guilty of sexual harassment following an investigation at his own restaurant, the Times reports.
Doherty, who stars in the BBC’s Britain’s Best Home Cook alongside Mary Berry, left The Royal Oak pub in November 2018 while an external investigation was conducted.
A junior female colleague at the restaurant had accused him of demanding sexual acts be performed on him and he was alleged to have told other workers he wanted to see them without their kitchen whites on.
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The investigation concluded that he was guilty of misconduct, and he was instructed to apologise to staff at a company-wide meeting. The Times reports that he told those present: “I am sorry for causing any distress.”
Doherty said in a statement: “I would never intentionally make offensive comments to anyone I work with, female or male.
“I have apologised to the whole team for any offence I may have inadvertently caused. It would never be my intention.”
Four female staff are alleged to have left the pub as a result of his inappropriate behaviour last year, according to two former staff members, who spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity.
And research suggests sexual harassment in the workplace is a widespread problem. A survey from the BBC in late 2017 found that half of British women and a fifth of men have been sexually harassed at work or a place of study. Both genders were likely to keep the abuse secret, with 63% of women and 79% of men reporting they kept it to themselves.
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They explained that people may choose not to talk about it for a number of reasons – they might, for example, feel the harassment took place in a way that was too subtle to highlight, or was couched in humour.
Maria Miller MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee on sexual harassment at work, said that employers are “falling down” when it comes to protecting their staff from such offenses.
“While a necessary, long-overdue conversation about experiences of sexual harassment continues in society and in the media, the impact this has had on organisations whose roles include oversight or inspection of workplaces and professionals is mixed,” she added.
“We know that employers are falling down in their responsibilities to create safe working environments.”
