Now schools ask lawyers to draw up codes of conduct for parent WhatsApp groups – Daily Mail

Now schools ask lawyers to draw up codes of conduct for parent WhatsApp groups – in case teachers find out they are being criticised and sue themBy GETHIN HICKS Published: 11:25 EDT, 13 April 2025 | Updated: 12:09 EDT, 13 April 2025 Schools are now asking lawyers to draw up codes of conduct to help police parent WhatsApp groups. The Employment Rights Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords, could make employers liable if they do not take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent their staff from harassment.Such a measure may mean that teachers can sue their employer if they receive abuse in parent WhatsApp groups. To prevent possibly having to pay-out to suing employees, schools are now reportedly rushing to have lawyers draw up codes of conduct for the online chats.It is thought that concern is growing amongst headteachers that they could actually be found liable if parent WhatsApp groups are used to spread false rumours or racist and homophobic abuse about staff. And those concerns have arisen when teachers are usually not even a part of these WhatsApp groups, which are routinely made by parents of pupils often in classes together.Head of the education group at the country’s
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