Harassment laws | Worker Protection Act introduced - is HR ready?

With the Worker Protection Act now in effect, employees can expect their employers to take reasonable steps to protect them from sexual harassment as a new duty comes into force.

As of October 26th, the landmark legal update means employers now have a duty to anticipate when sexual harassment may occur and take reasonable steps to prevent it. If sexual harassment has taken place, an employer should take action to stop it from happening again. 

This sends a clear signal to all employers that they must take reasonable preventative steps against sexual harassment, encourage cultural change where necessary, and reduce the likelihood of sexual harassment occurring.

Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Women and Equalities, said: “This Government is determined to ensure that we not only Make Work Pay; we also make work safe. Too many people feel uncomfortable or unsafe at work due to sexual harassment and we are putting every effort into putting a stop to it. The preventative duty is an important step on the journey, and we will continue to improve protections for workers until everyone can thrive.