Worker Protection Act Compliance Check

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 came into force on 26 October 2024 and marks a fundamental shift in how UK law treats workplace sexual harassment. Employers are no longer judged only on how they respond to incidents — they now have a proactive legal duty to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the first place. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) can investigate and enforce this duty even if no complaint has ever been made. Failure leaves employers exposed not only to EHRC enforcement action but also to a mandatory 25% uplift in compensation awarded by an Employment Tribunal if a harassment claim succeeds.

All UK employers are affected regardless of size, sector, or workforce composition — the duty covers employees, agency workers, and in some contexts contractors. Third-party harassment (from customers, clients, or suppliers) is explicitly within scope. The EHRC’s statutory guidance sets out practical steps businesses should take: written policies, risk assessments, training, clear reporting channels, and regular review. Businesses that cannot demonstrate they have actively taken these steps face significant financial and reputational risk if a claim is brought.

Use this free tool to check whether your business meets its legal duty to proactively prevent sexual harassment under the Worker Protection Act 2023. Get a plain-English report with practical steps in minutes.