From 30 October 2026, UK employers must take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment at work, not just “reasonable” ones. One extra word. A whole new level of paperwork-induced panic. Acas has the full breakdown here, if you fancy some light reading with your evening tea.
It also means businesses are now on the hook for harassment from customers, clients, contractors, the lot. So the “we have a policy in a drawer somewhere” approach officially retires. Tribunals will expect proof of proper, ongoing prevention work, not a policy nobody’s opened since induction day. This piece from Shoosmiths sets out what “all reasonable steps” is expected to actually mean in practice.
Here’s the challenge. A policy can define harassment in very serious font. It can’t teach someone how to say “that wasn’t okay” without their voice going up an octave. It can’t tell a manager what to do when someone quietly says “can I talk to you.” And it definitely won’t settle the great office debate of what counts as banter versus what gets you a very awkward meeting with HR.
That’s a conversation, not a clause. And it’s exactly the bit most compliance training misses. You can tick every box on a checklist and still have a workplace where nobody actually knows how to have the conversation when it matters.
Lorraine Chapman’s relationship compliance workshops could be your answer. www.Lorrainechapman.com
