Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy

This Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy has been written in accordance with current best practice and provides employees with assurance that the company is committed to preventing sexual harassment and victimisation in the workplace. It includes advice on how to confront sexual harassment, through both informal steps and a formal procedure.

Since October 2024, following the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, employers have been legally required to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees in the course of their employment. Where an employment tribunal upholds a sexual harassment claim against an employer and orders it to pay compensation, the tribunal must consider whether the employer has also breached its duty to prevent sexual harassment and, if it has, may increase the compensation by up to 25%. From 30 October 2026, following the Employment Rights Act 2025, employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees in the course of their employment, and are also liable for harassment (as defined in the Equality Act 2010, so not only sexual harassment) of their employees by third parties, such as customers or clients, in the course of their employment unless they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent it. 

This policy sets out the company’s commitment to protect its staff from sexual harassment and provides an indicative list of the types of behaviour that it will not accept. To help prevent all aspects of discrimination and harassment in the workplace please download the Harassment and Bullying Policy.

Guidance Notes for both Employers and Employees are also available to download to support the Sexual Harassment and Harassment & Bullying Policies, providing guidelines on how to respond to complaints/reports of harassment and bullying.

The Sexual Harassment Policy also covers third party harassment e.g. harassment by a client or visitor.

This Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy contains the following sections:

1. Policy Statement 
2. Definition of Harassment and Victimisation
3. Unlawful Grounds of Sexual Harassment 
4. Reporting Harassment 
5. Witnessing Harassment or Victimisation
6. Third party harassment
7. Procedure for Complaints 
8. Consequences of Breach 
9. Responsibilities of Employees and Managers 
10. Training
11. Support and Advice 
12. Confidentiality

Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy is part of Employment. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment for 1 year.