Strengthened Rights from October 2026
The Employment Rights Act 2025 enhances the duty to prevent sexual harassment from the 30th October 2026 by requiring an employer to take ‘all’ reasonable steps to prevent harassment (currently it is “reasonable steps”).
In addition, there is an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties.
Moving from “reasonable steps” to “all reasonable steps” means employers must do more to prove they are complying.
Employers must demonstrate comprehensive, documented, and continuous actions to stop both internal and third-party harassment.
This should include risk assessments, introduction of specific policies that explicitly cover sexual harassment and employee and management training.
Solutions for HR are able to offer training on the education and prevention of harassment and sexual harassment.
Please get in touch for further details.
In addition, reporting sexual harassment will amount to a protected disclosure for whistleblowing protection.
Understand what ‘all reasonable steps’ means
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