What is the New Sexual Harassment Legislation?
As of October 2024 the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act has strengthened existing protection for employees against sexual harassment.
The new duty has imposed a legal duty on employers to proactively prevent sexual harassment, rather than simply reacting to complaints. Chambers failing to comply with the new duty face financial and reputational risks.
What are the consequences if chambers don't comply with the new law?
Chambers who fail to comply with this duty could face significant financial and reputational damage.
Crucially, where a chambers is found to have breached its duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, the employment tribunal may automatically uplift any damages awarded against them by up to 25%.
Damages for allowing discriminatory harassment can be substantial, and the financial impact on the chambers can be devastating.
It is, therefore, essential for chambers to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace if they hope to avoid serious financial and reputational damage.
3 Ways We Can Help Chambers Become Compliant
We will collaborate closely with key key leaders in your set to identify any gaps, weaknesses, or grey areas in your existing policies and procedures.
Our team will develop an action plan that addresses any shortcomings in your safeguarding measures and will focus on areas such as support systems, reporting procedures, and complaint handling.
We will deliver comprehensive training, tailored for the Bar, to reinforce awareness on the prevention of sexual harassment, designed to meet the specific needs of your senior management, members and chambers staff.
Our Prevention of Sexual Harassment Training
To help address sexual harassment in the workplace, we've developed two training modules:
Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Bar (Advanced) - this module aims to equip senior leaders with the knowledge of what constitutes sexual harassment and the different types of abuse, as well as the measures that should be taken to prevent sexual harassment, and importantly, responding to harassment claims and the investigation steps.
Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Bar (Essentials)
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Designed to ensure barristers and chambers staff understand what constitutes sexual harassment and the forms it can take. It provides members staff with the knowledge to recognise and report unacceptable behaviour, supporting chambers in meeting their obligation to proactively prevent sexual harassment incidents.
Our audit approach
Our in-house barristers will actively collaborate with senior management within your chambers.
We will examine the existing measures in place to prevent and address instances of sexual harassment. This includes:
- Conducting a review of your current policies
- Evaluate your reporting and safeguarding procedures
- Assess your support systems, including training and resources
- Review your complaints handling process
- Review messaging and communications
Through this process, we aim to pinpoint any potential weaknesses and develop a strategic plan to enhance these measures, thereby ensuring that members and staff are safeguarded and that all legal requirements are effectively met.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you or your organisation is interested in this training, please get in contact with us for more information.
