Workplace sexual harassment and third-party harassment

What's changing

In October 2024, the Worker Protection Act 2023 came into force, requiring employers to anticipate the risk of sexual harassment occurring and take reasonable steps to prevent it. The Employment Rights Act 2025 contains measures to strengthen these protections, which will come into force from 30 October 2026.

Employers will be expected to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees, and they will have an obligation not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties. These changes will help make workplaces safer for everyone.

Key changes

  • Your employer must now take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. This is a change from the current obligation which requires employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees.
  • Your employer is obliged not to permit harassment by third parties in the workplace. Examples of third parties include a patient in the hospital or a customer in a shop.

What this means for you

Your employer will be required to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, ensuring you feel safe and supported. They must also take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment by third parties in the workplace.

What you can do now

These changes will apply automatically – you do not need to do anything.

Where to get help


Clear guidance will be published in advance of the new legislation coming into force.

In the meantime, employees experiencing sexual harassment at work should refer to existing guidance from EHRC on: sexual harassment and harassment at work.opens www.equalityhumanrights.com in a new tab

Acas also have support available if:

Where these changes apply

These measures apply to England, Wales and Scotland, but not to Northern Ireland, where equality and discrimination law is devolved.

Last updated: