Since the advent of #Metoo there has been a steady increase in individuals speaking out about harassment in the workplace, manifesting in grievances, claims and public headlines. The expectations on employers to prevent unwanted behaviour in the workplace and to promote dignity and respect amongst colleagues have never been greater. However, with roughly 40% of women and 18% of men having recently experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in the workplace, there is evidently more to be done. It is perhaps no surprise that tackling sexual harassment in the workplace is top of the list of EHRCs key priority areas for 2024-2025.
October 2024 also sees a very significant change from a legal perspective with the introduction of a mandatory legal duty on employers to take proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment. Gone are the days of employers dusting off bullying and harassment policies and training programmes only on receipt of a harassment claim; from October, employers must take active steps. In this training programme we will consider what steps employers will need to take to ensure compliance with this far reaching legislation.
Programme
The Context
- the global spotlight on sexual harassment
- implications and risk for workplaces – the need to manage complaints robustly and take a preventative approach
- why does this matter?
What is Harassment and what are reasonable steps?
- understanding the legal framework and what is changing
- common risks and pitfalls
- what do the changes in October mean in theory and in practice?
- who is liable?
- practical examples of what “good” looks like and how to comply with the new legal duty
- what additional changes can we expect if we have a Labour Government?
Dealing with complaints/allegations
- practical tips on dealing with and investigating complaints of harassment
- the role of HR and Managers
Challenging scenarios
- group work to consider approach in particularly challenging or sensitive “what if…” scenarios such as what happens if counter-allegations are made
Who should attend
This course is aimed at HR professionals and mangers, equality & wellbeing professionals and line managers looking to improve their understanding of sexual harassment in the workplace.