Over the past twelve months, we’ve seen a clear rise in enquiries from routine compliance checks to internal complaints and more complex cases involving third-party harassment. What’s clear is that these duties are touching every type of organisation, regardless of size or sector.

During the webinar, our HR and employment law specialist shared key lessons from the first year of the new duty, along with practical examples of what compliance looks like in real terms. We also discussed how the proposed Employment Rights Bill could raise expectations further, shifting from “reasonable steps” to “all reasonable steps” and reinstating employer responsibility for third-party harassment.

Two live polls gave a snapshot of how employers are feeling right now:

  • 68% said they’ve already updated their policies or training since the new duty came in
  • But only 47% felt confident their organisation is doing enough to meet the new requirements

This mix of action and uncertainty highlights a common theme. That employers are making changes, but confidence about what’s enough under the law isn’t yet settled. Many are still looking for clear benchmarks, examples of best practice, and reassurance that their efforts are on the right track.

Our advice is simple: Keep your approach proactive, measured, reviewed, and evidence based. It’s not just about having a policy in place, but being able to show it’s lived out in practice.

How Make UK can support

If you’re reviewing how your organisation meets its duty to prevent sexual harassment, we can help. We offer a full range of practical tools and training to support compliance and culture change, including:

  • A zero-tolerance bullying and harassment policy, risk assessment and action plan template
  • Independent employee surveys and focus groups to understand workplace culture
  • Half-day and full-day training workshops for HR, managers and employees
  • Train-the-trainer options and short video explainers for internal use For more information on our services, click here.

Don’t forget, as a member of Make UK, you can access guidance notes and template packs through our HR and Legal Resources.