Lloyd’s of London plans to address concerns over workplace culture at the insurance market following reports of sexual harassment and bullying. Claims by 18 women featured in a Bloomberg Businessweek article last week included descriptions of an atmosphere of “near-persistent harassment”.

Now Lloyd’s is looking to take measures to tackle the problem with a raft of proposals, according to the Sunday Times. These include plans to call an emergency meeting with senior staff members to establish ways to make it easier for formal complaints to be lodged.

Other potential changes include the addition of women to the currently all-male nominations and governance committee, as well as the possible conversion of the pub beneath the Lloyd’s building to a coffee shop in an attempt to reduce alcohol consumption.

John Neal, Lloyd’s CEO, said: “Lloyd’s has worked really hard to put the broadest inclusion agenda at the centre of everything we do. No one should ever experience harassment of any kind at work and it is distressing to hear that this is still happening. We take it extremely seriously and will be talking to the Lloyd’s market to ensure that we stamp out these inappropriate behaviours.”

Neal’s predecessor, Dame Inga Beale, Lloyd’s first ever female chief executive, stepped down in 2018 after five years and had attempted to ramp up diversity in the business.

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