A new Worker Protection Bill which would force employers to take preventative steps to stop harassment by customers is edging closer to coming into law.

The Worker Protection Bill will introduce a legal requirement for companies and public bodies to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent their staff from being harassed.

The new laws will allow shop assistants, bar staff and doctors to sue their employers if a member of the public offends them at work, The Telegraph reports.

Despite fierce opposition from members of the Tory party the bill has already made it through multiple Commons sittings.

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse, who co-sponsors the bill said:

“This bill is being oversimplified by critics… employers will not be expected to take extreme steps, shut down conversation, or employ ‘banter bouncers’,”

“The hurdles employees have to jump when holding their employers to account for failing to protect from harassment are too high and victims feel silenced,” she added.