Sexual harassment in the workplace – new legislation from October
In October 2024, significant changes to the UK law regarding sexual harassment in the workplace will come into effect. An amendment to the Equality Act 2010, places a new duty on employees to ‘take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.’
Key changes
- Employers are required to proactively prevent sexual harassment
- Compensation award can be increased by up to 25%
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission updated in July 2024 the Employment Code of Practice to reflect the change: Preventing sexual harassment at work: a guide for employers (equalityhumanrights.com)
Why do these changes matter?
The new law aims to create a safer and more respectful working environment. Employees may feel more empowered to report harassment knowing their employers are legally required to take complaints seriously and act upon them.
Employers will have a legal duty to take proactive steps in creating a safe working environment. Encouraging a positive and respectful workplace can build an organisations’ reputation which helps retain and attract good staff. By remaining complaint with the law, employers can avoid costly legal disputes and disruptions.
Training for line managers
To support your organisation navigate these changes, we are offering specialised training for organisations, aimed at line managers.
Our training is delivered by our very experienced HR consultants, Kate and Nicola, and will cover:
- The legal change and employer and employee responsibilities
- What constitutes sexual harassment
- The impact of individuals and organisations of sexual harassment in the workplace
- What steps an employer can take to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
You can find out more and book your space via our Eventbrite page.
We will be adding future dates and can offer a bespoke session for larger teams of 9 – 15 people. If you would like to find out more, please email HR@cbrsolutions.org.uk
