Sexual harassment prevention: the bar is rising for employers in the UK

UK employers already have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work.

From October 2026, the standard will rise to all reasonable steps. Third-party harassment liability is also expected to be introduced, covering harassment by people outside the organisation, including clients, customers, contractors, service users, suppliers, visitors and members of the public.

This means employers need to take a proactive approach to prevention.

A policy alone is unlikely to be enough.

Our Sexual Harassment and Third-Party Harassment Prevention Sprint helps employers assess risk, strengthen policies, train staff and managers, and create an evidence trail of preventative action. With many employers still catching up with the creation of the preventative duty to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment, the new duty from October 2026 to take ALL reasonable steps raises the standard even further.

We are offering a Sexual Harassment and Third-Party Harassment Prevention Sprint.

This package helps employers review their current arrangements, identify workplace and third-party harassment risks, and take practical HR steps to strengthen prevention.

It is designed to support employers with:

• The existing duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.

• The October 2026 move to all reasonable steps.

• The expected introduction of third-party harassment liability.

• Practical risk assessment and action planning.

• Staff and manager training.

• Policy and procedure improvements.

• Evidence of preventative action.

What the sexual harassment and third-party harassment sprint covers

The package includes:

• Sexual harassment and third-party harassment risk assessment.

• Policy and procedure review.

• Practical reasonable steps action plan.

• Staff awareness training.

• Manager training and guidance.

• Third-party harassment control recommendations.

• Evidence pack.

• Follow-up recommendations.

Which employers is this is for

This package is suitable for employers who:

• Have not carried out a recent sexual harassment prevention risk assessment.

• Have customer-facin

  g, client-facing or public-facing teams.

• Work with contractors, suppliers, visitors, patients, service users or members of the public.

• Hold events, work socials, conferences or client entertainment.

• Have remote, hybrid, lone working or field-based staff.

• Need to train managers on how to respond to concerns.

• Want to prepare for the October 2026 changes.

• Need practical HR guidance and an evidence trail.

Outcome

By the end of the sprint, you will have a clearer understanding of your risk areas, practical recommendations to reduce those risks, trained staff and managers, and a documented evidence pack showing the prevention steps taken.

Next steps

Book a free 30 minute consultation with us today to understand where your business may be exposed and what you need to do.

Contact Rosamund@velapeople.com

This service provides practical HR consultancy support to help employers assess workplace risks, strengthen policies and procedures, train staff and managers, and document preventative steps relating to sexual harassment and third-party harassment. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee compliance, prevent claims or determine whether an employer has met any legal test. Employers should seek advice from a qualified employment lawyer where legal interpretation, litigation risk, tribunal proceedings or complex case-specific advice is required.