New UK Worker Protections Mandate Employers Act on Harassment

Employers in the UK will now be required to proactively prevent harassment as new worker protections, part of Angela Rayner's Employment Rights Act 2025, come into force on Friday. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is issuing guidance to businesses, emphasizing their heightened legal obligations, particularly concerning work social events and interactions with third parties.

The EHRC highlights that risks of harassment can increase during social gatherings, especially when alcohol is involved. Companies must now 'consider those risks in advance' to avoid legal responsibility for harassment of their employees. This includes safeguarding against harassment from customers, self-employed contractors, freelancers, conference delegates, and even members of the public, if reasonable steps to prevent it were not taken.

Under the updated legislation, businesses must take 'all reasonable steps'—a stricter standard than the previous 'reasonable steps'—to prevent harassment related to protected characteristics such as age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and gender reassignment. Failure to comply could lead to employees pursuing claims in tribunals, potentially resulting in uncapped compensation awards.

Shadow business secretary Julia Lopez criticized the changes, suggesting they risk turning employers into 'fun police' and creating an environment where bosses are overly cautious about workplace interactions. She argued that these rules, outlined in Labour's Employment Rights Act, will add further strain to businesses and could negatively impact the economy.

Dr. Mary-Ann Stephenson, chair of the EHRC, stated that the law now necessitates employers to actively identify risk areas, implement preventative measures before incidents occur, and ensure these measures are effective. The EHRC aims to provide practical support and clear examples to help employers understand and fulfill their responsibilities.

In addition to harassment prevention, the new legislation also grants trade union officials and shop stewards enhanced powers to access workplaces. Unions can request to engage with workers in person or digitally with 15 working days' notice. Businesses that refuse such engagement face potential fines of up to £500,000.