A new duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment is imminent. What do businesses need to do to prepare?
From 26 October 2024, employers will be under a new duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their workers. This new preventative duty is contained in the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023.
The preventative duty relates only to sexual harassment and not other “protected characteristics” included in the Equality Act 2010. It is in addition to the current protection from discrimination, harassment and victimisation contained in that Act.
On 26 September 2024, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published comprehensive updated Technical Guidance for employers and an Employer 8-step guide: Preventing sexual harassment at work which are well-worth looking at.
What is sexual harassment?
The Equality Act 2010 defines this as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of either violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them.
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