Sexual harassment in the workplace (UK): Laws and employee training

Sexual harassment is a critical issue that shouldn’t be overlooked by any organisation. In the UK, laws require employers to take proactive measures to prevent harassment and discrimination from thriving in the workplace.

Browse this comprehensive guide to sexual harassment in the workplace UK. It covers the definition, common examples, and recommended training courses. This also explores the Equality Act 2010 and the Worker Protection Act 2023, highlighting the employers’ legal obligations.

What is sexual harassment in the workplace?

Sexual harassment happens when an individual engages in any form of inappropriate or unwanted sexual behaviour toward a co-worker. These vary from physical and verbal acts to online exchanges between employees–both during or outside working hours.

Additionally, sexual harassment extends to work-related social events, such as parties, conferences, and team-building activities.

A common misconception about sexual harassment in the workplace UK is that it’s limited to intentional acts. However, the law says otherwise. The Equality Act 2010 focuses on the purpose and effect of the behaviour on the recipient rather than the motives of the harasser.

If a person’s behaviour creates an intimidating, hostile, and offensive environment for their co-workers, that person may be found guilty of committing sexual harassment. Remember that as an employer, you have the legal duty to protect your workers from unlawful discrimination.

Anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment, regardless of their race, gender, age, sexual orientation, or religion. The data from a ComRes poll for the BBC reveals that 40% of women and 18% of men have been victims of sexual misconduct in the workplace. Their experiences varied from being recipients of unwelcome jokes and comments to serious sexual assault.

Raise awareness against workplace violence with sexual harassment training.

What counts as sexual harassment in the workplace

There are many examples of sexual harassment at work, ranging from physical, verbal, and virtual actions. Below are some common examples your management and employees should look out for:

• Unwanted physical contact: Touching, hugging, or groping someone’s body without their consent.
• Suggestive or leering looks: Unwelcome staring or giving someone a sly look that suggests malicious intent or sexual interest.
• Requests for sexual favors: Asking or pressuring a co-worker for sexual favors in exchange for money or work-related benefits.
• Indecent exposure: Exposing intimate parts of your body in public improperly and offensively.
• Sharing inappropriate material: Sending sexually charged or pornographic materials, either in-person or online.
• Stalking: Following someone repeatedly causes the person to feel unsafe and uncomfortable.
• Offensive remarks: Making sexual or degrading jokes, or gender-specific comments at a co-worker’s expense. This can apply to in-person and online interactions.

It’s important to remind your employees that sexual harassment isn’t confined to the physical setting. It can also happen in the virtual space, such as your team’s group channel, social media sites, or through private messages.

In the next section, we’ll cover the primary legislation that offers legal protection to employees who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. Plus, an overview of the financial penalties organisations can face for failing to comply with the law.

The law on harassment

The Equality Act 2010 is the legal framework enacted by the UK government to protect workers from harassment and discrimination. A significant change to the legislation was enforced on October 26, 2024, under the Worker Protection Act 2023. The purpose was to strengthen the rights and protections of employees across various sectors.

Based on the Worker Protection Act 2023, employers have a preventative duty to protect their workers from sexual harassment. You’re legally obligated to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent the sexual harassment of your staff from colleagues and third parties.

The evidence of a failure to do so could justify an action from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) against your organisation. Additionally, this sexual harassment law includes an increase in the compensation rate, by up to 25%, for successful sexual harassment claims.

Benefits of sexual harassment prevention training

When it comes to sexual harassment, employers are mandated to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment and discrimination from spreading in the workplace.

Remember, your employees are the backbone of the business. Just as you expect everyone to perform their jobs properly, you’re responsible for creating a safe workplace for them. Ideally, an environment that values respect and professionalism.

More than enforcing anti-discrimination policies, investing in sexual harassment training offers the following benefits:

1. Increased awareness: With proper training, your employees can feel confident in understanding the law and their rights.
2. Legal compliance: If a case arises against your organisation, authorities will check whether you’ve taken reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. Having harassment prevention training in place can show that you’ve fulfilled your duty.
3. Crisis management: Training equips employees with the proper procedures for filing complaints. This can lead to better conflict management.
4. Improved employee satisfaction: A zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination reflects your management’s commitment to respect and equality. This can make your employees feel appreciated and supported.
5. Enhanced team dynamics: Promoting a respectful workplace paves the way for better collaboration and teamwork across departments.

While no specific law under the Equality Act 2010 and Worker Protection Act 2023 requires mandatory training, implementing sexual harassment training programs for employees is encouraged. It demonstrates your company’s proactive approach to addressing these workplace incidents.

Protect employees against workplace violence with sexual harassment training

Now that you understand the benefits, it’s time to select your course. We’ve taken the initiative to find the perfect prevention training for you. SC Training (formerly EdApp) has partnered with Halborns, a top employment law firm, to develop a sexual harassment training course that you can seamlessly roll out to your teams on any device.

Let’s explore the contents of this course.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (UK)

The five-part course on sexual harassment in the workplace UK explores the impacts of sexual harassment on employees. It outlines the steps to prevent it, teaches proper responses to inappropriate behaviour, and breaks down the various actions that count as sexual harassment.

Through its modules, your team can learn about common misconceptions concerning sexual harassment and tips for addressing the harasser. This includes confronting them in real-time, supporting the victim, or filing a complaint.

This course shares relevant workplace safety statistics to emphasise the gravity of this issue and the importance of drafting a harassment and anti-discrimination policy. As a mobile-friendly course, it features interactive scenarios to aid in real-life applications. Practice quizzes are also spread out to test your team’s understanding of the lessons.

But that’s not all. With SC Training’s robust compliance training software, you can:

• Break down complex topics into digestible chunks using the Microlearning strategy.
• Store essential workplace policies, videos, and documents with Briefcase.
• Turn your procedural documents and PowerPoints into fully editable and interactive courses in minutes using Create with AI.
• Merge online and in-person training sessions with Blended learning tools like virtual classrooms, digital assessments, and certificates.
• Track your team’s training progress in a central space for easy reference and compliance with Reporting and Analytics.

Take a proactive approach against sexual harassment in the workplace UK. Sign up with SC Training today!