What is the new sexual harassment legislation?
As of October 2024 the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill 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. Businesses failing to comply with the new duty face financial and reputational risks.
How can employers become compliant?
Effective sexual harassment prevention requires focusing on several areas. These include creating a supportive organisational culture, establishing clear sexual harassment policies and procedures, providing annual awareness training for all employees, and ensuring reporting steps are well promoted and investigations are conducted fairly and quickly.
What are the consequences if employers don't take reasonable steps?
Employers who fail to comply with this duty could face significant financial and reputational damage.
Crucially, where an employer 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 organisation can be devastating.
It is, therefore, essential for employers to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace if they hope to avoid serious financial and reputational damage.
4 ways we can help implement these new legislative changes
We will present a walk through to your senior team, outlining the legislation and offering practical guidance on ensuring full compliance.
We will collaborate closely with key stakeholders within your business 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 to reinforce awareness on the prevention of sexual harassment, designed to meet the specific needs of your management, senior teams, and all employees.
Our prevention of sexual harassment training
To help address sexual harassment in the workplace, we've developed two training modules. One module is tailored for employers and management, while the other is focused on employees and teams. These modules reflect a thorough understanding of how to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace and ensure your organisation addresses the issue.
Through our training, we will explore:
- Understanding what sexual harassment is and recognising its various forms
- How to develop the ability to identify and challenge inappropriate behaviour
- Responding to harassment claims and the investigation steps
Our audit approach
Our in-house barristers will actively collaborate with essential stakeholders and management within your organisation.
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 employees 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.
