Are You Up to Date with Sexual Harassment Laws?

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The legal duty to prevent harassment is now in force:

From October 2024, UK employers have a proactive legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, strengthening the Equality Act 2010.

This is a major shift in employer responsibility.

Further changes ahead means it will no longer just be enough to respond when an issue arises. You must now take active, preventative measures and be able to prove it.

If you find yourself in an Employment Tribunal and it finds you have failed to take ALL reasonable steps, compensation can be increased by up to 25%.

What your businesses must do now:

Review & Update Policies:

  •  Update ‘Anti-Harassment & Bullying’ policies.
  • Include clear definitions and examples.
  • Address third-party harassment.
  • Strengthen reporting mechanisms.

Conduct Workplace Risk Assessments:

  •  Identify high-risk roles (client-facing, remote, night work).
  • Assess workplace culture and reporting confidence.
  • Review previous complaints and patterns.
  • Organise meaningful, up-to-date training

Tribunals will ask:

  •  Was training carried out?
  • Was it recent?
  • Was it relevant?
  • Was it effective?

Training is now a legal safeguard, not a formality.

Why training is essential under the new law?

Robust training:

  •  Defines what constitutes ‘Sexual Harassment’.
  • Clarifies acceptable workplace conduct.
  • Empowers staff to speak up.
  • Equips managers to respond correctly.
  • Demonstrates ‘reasonable steps’.
  • Protects brand reputation and workplace culture.

Without credible training, your business is exposed.

Protect Your Business with eLearning from Addison Academy that delivers:

  • IIRSM & Citation Approved, CPD Accredited eLearning.
  • Fully Online, Accessible & Trackable.

Addison Academy’s Sexual Harassment Awareness eLearning is:

  •  Legally up to date.
  • Designed for all employees and managers.
  • Evidence-based for compliance.
  • Supported by certification and reporting records.
  • This ensures your business can clearly demonstrate that it has taken ALL reasonable preventative steps, as required by law.

Failure to act may result in:

  • Tribunal claims.
  • 25% uplift in compensation.
  • Reputational damage.
  • Increased staff turnover.
  • Public scrutiny.

In today’s environment, one failure can have long-term consequences.

Take Action Today. Don’t wait for a complaint to test your compliance.

https://addisonacademy.co.uk/…/sexual-harassment…/

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Our new Virtual Classroom Sexual Harassment Training

Get in touch with a member of the team today!

Call us: 01253 898 214

Email: enquiries@addisonacademy.co.uk

Visit: www.addisonacademy.co.uk

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