As we near the one-year mark since the Worker Protection Act placed a proactive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, our team has identified a concerning trend across UK businesses.
Recent data reveals a significant compliance gap. More than 40% of organisations have not yet completed a sexual harassment risk assessment, while 22% of those who have lack confidence in their assessment’s validity.
Understanding the stakes of preventing
sexual harassment in the workplace
Risk assessments represent far more than admin compliance and without one, the financial and reputational risks are substantial.
Sexual harassment claims already carry unlimited compensation awards, and under the Worker Protection Act, tribunals have the authority to increase compensation by up to 25% when employers cannot demonstrate they’ve taken reasonable preventative measures. This includes thorough risk assessments.
Combined with potential damage to company reputation, declining workplace morale, erosion of employee confidence and a 39% increase in harassment-related enquiries to ACAS, the urgency for action on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace has never been clearer.
What should a sexual harassment
risk assessment cover?
Each organisation’s assessment will be tailored to its specific circumstances, including company size, industry sector, workforce composition and operational environment. A comprehensive sexual harassment in the workplace risk assessments should address:
- Hazard identification: Examine factors such as workforce diversity levels, organisational hierarchy, company culture, physical and social work environments, remote working arrangements, business travel requirements and third-party engagement.
- Risk profiling: Evaluate which employees face elevated risk and under what circumstances, including high-pressure situations, travel scenarios, client engagement, workplace relationships, social contexts and company events.
- Current control measures: Audit existing harassment policies, training programmes, reporting systems and preventative measures to determine effectiveness and identify deficiencies.
- Corrective action planning: Document necessary improvements, allocating clear ownership and establishing review timelines to maintain ongoing accountability.
- Ongoing evaluation: Treat the risk assessment as a dynamic tool that requires regular updates in response to emerging risks, incidents or organisational developments.
Sexual harassment risk assessment
templates and support
Our group company has developed comprehensive tools to support compliance with the Worker Protection Act, including a detailed sexual harassment risk assessment template accessible through our legal experts.
Consultations are available to explore how it can support compliance with current prevention duties.
Sexual harassment in the workplace training:
A critical compliance requirement
More than 30% of organisations have yet to implement sexual harassment in the workplace training, which is a critical component of fulfilling the proactive duty under the Worker Protection Act.
Effective sexual harassment in the workplace training goes beyond simple compliance. Investment in engaging, practical learning that enables employees to identify, challenge and report inappropriate conduct ensures lasting behavioural change.
Our group’s specialist training solutions have successfully trained over 115,000 employees, combining compliance requirements with meaningful engagement. Demonstrations and training reviews can be arranged upon request.
This content is current as of the publication date but may be subject to subsequent changes. It is provided for informational purposes and should not be considered professional advice. Organisations should seek specific guidance on matters affecting their business.
