The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 will come into force on 26 October 2024.
This Act introduces a new positive legal obligation on employers to take reasonable steps to protect their workers from sexual harassment.
If an employer breaches the preventative duty, the Equality and Human Rights Commission have the power to take enforcement action against the employer.
More importantly, in the event of any claim of sexual harassment going to tribunal employers will need to evidence that they have taken “reasonable steps” to prevent such harassment. In reality this means employers will need to evidence compliance with the EHRC code of practice.
This code of practice is now in its consultation phase prior to going live on or before 26 October 2024.
It is beyond any doubt that the code will require employers to have robust policies and procedures in place and that all staff will need to be trained in them. Concrew Training’s support options enable employers to develop robust policies and add gravitas to training role out. Find out more HERE
You can participate in the consultation via the link below. Remember understanding the consultation will also help you understand, better, what needs to be in place BEFORE 26 October 2024. Employers have had a year to prepare so there is little chance that work in progress will be an acceptable defence