New Sexual Harassment Prevention Duties: Is Your Business Prepared?

As expectations on employers continue to evolve, creating a workplace where employees feel safe, respected and supported has never been more important.

Employers already have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. However, from October 2026, those obligations will become more extensive, requiring employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment and to address risks arising from the actions of third parties, as well as fellow employees.

For many organisations, these changes present an opportunity to review workplace culture, policies and training arrangements, and to ensure appropriate preventative measures are in place.

Preventing sexual harassment is about more than responding to complaints when they arise. Employers are expected to take proactive steps to identify potential risks, implement appropriate safeguards and ensure employees understand the standards of behaviour expected in the workplace.

While every organisation will face different risks, employers should consider whether they have:

• Up-to-date policies that clearly address sexual harassment
• Effective reporting procedures
• Appropriate management training
• Regular staff training and awareness initiatives
• Risk assessments that identify potential areas of concern
• Processes for dealing with behaviour by customers, suppliers and other third parties

A proactive approach not only helps organisations meet their legal obligations but also supports a positive workplace culture and can reduce the likelihood of costly and reputationally damaging disputes.

Training plays a key role in demonstrating that an organisation is taking active steps to prevent sexual harassment.

Providing managers and employees with practical guidance helps ensure they understand:

• What constitutes sexual harassment
• How concerns should be raised and addressed
• The responsibilities of managers and leaders
• The role workplace culture plays in prevention
• The steps organisations can take to identify and manage risks

Well-designed training can also help businesses move beyond compliance and create workplaces where all employees feel valued and respected.

To help employers prepare for the changing legal landscape, MBM Commercial's Employment Law team has developed a new Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Pack, designed to provide practical support for organisations of all sizes.

Recognising that different businesses require different levels of support, we offer three flexible packages.

Core Package

Ideal for organisations that wish to deliver training internally, our Core package provides a ready-to-use toolkit including training slides, a training script, a sexual harassment policy and a workplace risk assessment template.

Bespoke Package

For organisations seeking a more tailored solution, our Bespoke package includes a customised recorded training session together with tailored documentation and organisation-specific content.

Complete Package

Our Complete package offers expert-led, interactive training delivered by one or more members of our Employment Law team and tailored to your organisation's specific needs. It also includes supporting policy documentation and a workplace risk assessment.

Whether you are looking for a practical self-delivery option, a tailored programme or fully interactive training delivered by employment law specialists, we can help you find the right approach for your organisation. For more information or to discuss which package may be most suitable for your business, please contact Hannah Roche or Chris Scobie, or download our Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Pack Flyer.