With over 400 individuals claiming to be victims or witnesses of sexual misconduct against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, and more complainants anticipated to come forward in the following weeks, these allegations highlight the prevalent issue of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Following implementation of the Duty Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which came into force on 26 October 2024, employers are now required to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their workers.
Obligations
Previously there was no proactive obligation on employers but now they will be required to actively consider the risks of sexual harassment happening in their workplace and take steps to prevent harassment. These steps will vary from employer to employer but could involve: -
- Having a clear and specific policy on sexual harassment.
- Providing training to all employees; and
- Considering what third parties your employees might be in contact with.
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