UK – The new Worker Protection Act

Tanay Vankayalapati Emily Smith
Tanay Vankayalapati, Emily Smith
  • 1m read
  • December 5, 2023

What’s new?

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 (the “Act”) recently achieved Royal Assent, and will come into force in October 2024. Under the Act, employers will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent their employees from being subject to sexual harassment whilst at work.

It is expected that the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) will publish a code of practice containing guidance on how employers can comply with the new requirements.

What potential penalties could employers face?

Under the Act, if the Tribunal finds that the employer failed to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, any compensation awarded could be increased by up to 25%.

What should employers do now?

Employers should familiarise themselves with the new Act (and applicable EHRC guidance, once published) and take preparatory steps to ensure they are ready for its implementation next October, including reviewing and updating relevant employment policies, procedures, documentation and training programmes – particularly those relating to equal opportunities and bullying/harassment. If you need any support with this, or would like any further information, please get in touch with a member of the MDR ONE team.

Tanay Vankayalapati Tanay Vankayalapati Emily Smith Emily Smith
Article

Resource Centre

UK – Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 passed into law

How does the Act change the law? Under the current law, statutory paternity leave lasts up to two weeks and the employee must  (1) have been continuously employed for 26 weeks by the qualifying date (which is around the 26th week of pregnancy in birth or surrogacy cases, and the week when they are matched
View

Poland – New Act on the protection of whistleblowers

To whom does the Act apply? The headcount threshold is assessed as of 1 January or 1 July of a given year and includes employees and persons performing paid work on a basis other than employment. No threshold applies to companies conducting financial, transport safety and environmental protection activities, who must have an internal whistleblowing
View

Chile – Law changes on sexual and workplace harassment

What are the changes? There are a number of changes introduced by this new law, which include (but are not limited to): Broadened definition of harassment – the law expands the definition of workplace harassment to include any kind of aggression or harassment that may “undermine, mistreat or humiliate a person or affect his or
View
Article

UAE – New Mental Health Law and employers’ obligations

Who is protected under the Mental Health Law? The Mental Health Law applies to individuals who are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Under the Mental Health Law, this means any person who has disturbances in thinking, mood, behaviour, perception, memory, or other mental abilities which can lead to a defect in the social, employment, or
View

How can we help you?

I'm looking for advice Subscribe: I'd like to keep in touch
I'm looking for advice


Subscribe to our mailings