Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Training
Sexual harassment is a serious workplace issue, and UK employers have a legal responsibility to take proactive steps to prevent it. From 30 October 2026, that responsibility becomes stronger, with employers required to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
The changes also strengthen protection against third-party harassment, including inappropriate behaviour from customers, clients, contractors, suppliers and other people workers may encounter as part of their job. For employers, this makes effective policies, risk assessment, reporting procedures and appropriate staff training increasingly important.
This online Sexual Harassment in the Workplace course helps employees and managers understand what sexual harassment is, recognise inappropriate behaviour and know how to prevent and respond to it.
Learners explore how unwanted conduct is assessed and why intent, humour, workplace “banter” or a lack of objection does not automatically make behaviour acceptable. The course covers verbal, visual, physical and digital harassment, as well as behaviour at work-related social events, online and involving customers, clients and other third parties.
The course also examines the practical steps organisations can take to prevent sexual harassment, including setting clear standards of behaviour, identifying workplace risks, providing effective reporting routes and responding appropriately when concerns are raised.
Learners will understand how complaints should be handled fairly and sensitively, the importance of protecting people who speak up from victimisation or retaliation, and the individual role everyone has in creating a respectful workplace.
New Sexual Harassment Duties from 30 October 2026
Under changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025, employers will be required to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees.
This represents an important strengthening of the preventative duty introduced in 2024. Employers should take a proactive approach to identifying risks and putting appropriate preventative measures in place rather than simply responding after an incident has occurred.
The changes also introduce greater employer liability for harassment by third parties, such as customers, clients and members of the public, where the employer has failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent it.
Failure to meet the preventative duty can result in enforcement action by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Where an employee successfully brings a sexual harassment claim, an Employment Tribunal can also increase compensation by up to 25% where the employer has failed to comply with its preventative duty.
Effective sexual harassment training should therefore form part of a wider preventative approach, helping employers demonstrate that they are taking workplace harassment seriously and ensuring employees and managers understand their responsibilities.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Define sexual harassment and understand how unwanted conduct is assessed in the workplace.
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Recognise verbal, visual, physical and digital behaviours that may constitute sexual harassment.
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Identify workplace risks, including power imbalances, work-related social situations and harassment involving customers, clients or other third parties.
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Understand the responsibilities of employees, managers and employers in preventing sexual harassment.
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Recognise appropriate ways to challenge, interrupt or respond to concerning behaviour when it is safe to do so.
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Understand how to raise and report concerns using appropriate workplace procedures.
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Respond appropriately when someone reports or discloses sexual harassment.
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Recognise victimisation, retaliation and other inappropriate responses to someone raising a concern.
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Understand the importance of proactive prevention, risk assessment, clear workplace standards and effective training.
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Recognise how the strengthened employer duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment affects UK workplaces from 30 October 2026.