Workplace sexual harassment and third-party harassment

What's changing

The Employment Rights Act 2025 contains measures that amend the Equality Act 2010 to strengthen protections from harassment. From 30 October 2026, employers must:

  • take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees
  • not permit the harassment of their employees by third parties

These changes will help make workplaces safer for everyone.

Key changes

  • Your employer must take all of the steps that are reasonable for their organisation to take to prevent sexual harassment
  • Your employer must not permit the harassment of their employees by third parties, for example, customers and clients. This provision covers all types of harassment under the Equality Act 2010. It includes sexual harassment and harassment related to a protected characteristic apart from pregnancy and maternity, and marriage and civil partnership

What this means for you

Your employer is 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.

Actions to take

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

Where to get help

On 30 October, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published updated technical guidance on harassment at workopens www.equalityhumanrights.com in a new tab, and also an updated 8-step guide for employers on preventing workplace sexual harassmentopens www.equalityhumanrights.com in a new tab.

Acas has updated its guidance on workplace sexual harassmentopens www.acas.org.uk in a new tab and third-party harassmentopens www.acas.org.uk in a new tab to reflect the upcoming changes.

Acas also has 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.

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