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What is the Worker Protection Act?
On 26 October 2024, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) came into force, putting a new legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace from third parties.
In addition, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will have powers to enforce the duty and so will be able to take enforcement action against organisations which are in breach of this new duty.
Worker Protection Pack
At Buxton Coates Solicitors, we have created a special Worker Protection Pack that provides training along with everything else you need to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.
By having our Worker Protection Pack in place, you will be protecting your business from an Employment Tribunal increasing compensation by up to 25% for claims of sexual harassment.
What employers need to do now
We advise that all organisations should arrange annual equality and diversity training to educate workers on harassment and discrimination in the workplace, but also to emphasise your zero-tolerance stance on such conduct and ensure that you cannot be vicariously liable for the actions of your workers under the Equality Act 2010. Now is the time to refresh the training that is provided to workers and ensure that staff understand ways in which they can raise concerns in respect of unacceptable behaviour.
You should consider the risks of sexual harassment occurring in the course of employment and given that the duty extends to third-party harassment, you must consider what third parties your staff may come into contact with and what steps you could take to reduce those risks and prevent sexual harassment of your workers.
Contact Buxton Coates Solicitors on 0330 088 2275 to find out about our Worker Protection Pack.
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