More than a year has passed since employers were given a legal duty to actively prevent sexual harassment at work. Since then, organisations have faced increasing scrutiny, with enquiries ranging from compliance concerns to complex cases involving third parties and internal complaints. These changes affect businesses of every size, but place particular responsibility on those in management and leadership roles.
Legal Developments Employers Cannot Ignore
Significant legal reforms came into force in April 2026, strengthening protections relating to sexual harassment, including enhanced links with whistleblowing law. Complaints about sexual harassment now fall more clearly within the scope of protected disclosures, significantly increasing the legal risks for employers who fail to respond appropriately. Organisations that do not have robust preventative measures, effective reporting mechanisms, and a culture that supports individuals speaking up may face serious legal and reputational consequences.
Alongside the current preventative duty, the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a strengthened obligation on employers, requiring them from October 2026 to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The same duty will apply to harassment by third parties (such as clients, customers, and contractors), extending employer liability across all protected characteristics if they fail to take such steps. This places even greater responsibility on line managers and leaders to recognise risks, respond appropriately, and actively contribute to a safe working environment.
Why Managers Play a Critical Role
Managers play a critical role in prevention. Employees may not always have a full understanding of sexual harassment, particularly within diverse workplaces encompassing different cultures, expectations, and generations. In many cases, inappropriate behaviour occurs in grey areas, is normalised as “banter”, or goes unchallenged due to uncertainty or discomfort.
Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is a major contributor to toxic workplace cultures and remains significantly underreported. To fulfil their duty of care, organisations must ensure that managers understand both the legal framework and the practical realities of handling concerns, behaviours, and complaints.
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual behaviour, whether physical or verbal, in person or online. It can arise from a single incident or a repeated pattern and can affect individuals of any gender. Examples include unwanted advances, intrusive questions, offensive jokes, sexually explicit emails or messages, sharing pornographic material, and inappropriate touching.
Sexual harassment is often about power, behaviour that makes someone feel uncomfortable, humiliated, or intimidated. It may be perpetrated by colleagues, managers, clients, or customers.
Prevention Requires More Than Compliance
Prevention is better than a cure. Our Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Line Managers & Leaders goes beyond box-ticking compliance. This practical, interactive session is designed to equip managers with the confidence, judgement, and skills needed to manage real-world workplace situations.
The session provides an in-depth exploration of:
- Understanding what constitutes sexual harassment
- The power dynamics behind inappropriate behaviour
- Recognising risks and early warning signs
- Navigating workplace “grey areas” and banter
- How and when to intervene as a manager
- Handling complaints and difficult conversations
- Supporting individuals who raise concerns
- Whistleblowing protections and legal risks
- Creating and maintaining a respectful culture
This course builds on core awareness content with further in-depth discussion specifically tailored to individuals in management roles, ensuring managers feel supported, prepared, and confident when managing employees and workplace situations.
Course Structure and Delivery
The training will be delivered online via Zoom. All delegates will receive learning materials, including a workbook to use during the session and as a reference guide afterwards.
- Date: 17 June 2026
- Time: 9.30 – 13.30
- Where: Zoom
- Costs: £175 + VAT per delegate
Discounts:
- Watertight Light Clients – 5%
- Watertight Standard Clients – 7%
- Watertight Premium Clients – 10%
- Charities – 10%
- Organisations booking places for 10 or more employees will receive a 15% discount
Please note: Discounts cannot be combined. If you are a Watertight client or charity booking 10 or more places, the maximum discount available is 15%.
