‘Unwelcome Attention’ is a campaign led by Prettys Solicitors, in partnership with Waddington Brown, to encourage organisations to take action to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace for good.
The #MeToo movement in 2017 shone a light on the prevalence of sexual harassment across many industries and made it more acceptable for employees to speak out. Yet, incidents of workplace harassment remain widespread – showing that as a society, we still have progress to make.
From October 2024, all employers in England and Wales have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023.
This new law demands action, not words. Employers must put clear policies, effective training and a positive workplace culture in place to keep people safe. Failing to do so risks reputational harm, legal claims, regulatory scrutiny and financial penalties.
And assuming “it doesn’t happen here” is a costly mistake. Many incidents go unreported – through fear, embarrassment or lack of faith that anything will change. Tackling harassment isn’t just a legal box to tick; it is a moral obligation and a cultural priority for every employer.
So what steps as an employer must I now take to comply with these duties?
- Understand the legal duty
- Conduct a risk assessment
- Develop and communicate a clear policy
- Provide training
- Establish safe reporting mechanisms
- Respond promptly and appropriately to allegations of sexual harassment
- Regularly monitor and review your practices and procedures
What can Prettys do to help you prevent sexual harassment in the workplace?
We can provide a bespoke package to fit what your organisation needs to ensure that:
- You are fully informed of the legal duties, and you have a clear understanding of what your workplace needs to do to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
- You have the correct documentation in place that has considered all the risks tailored to your specific workplace.
- Appropriate practices and procedures have been put in place so that if an allegation of sexual harassment is made, you can feel confident that you have responded accordingly.
Booking Unwelcome Attention Training
Ready to book for your employees, or want to see the full course outline?
Our 60-minute course on addressing unwelcome attention combines expert insight with practical learning.
The course has been designed with the expertise of the employment law team at Prettys Solicitors, habits expert Rebecca Liljendhal (who is also the course guide) and the HR team at Waddington Brown.
It includes:
- Video learning and interactive content
- Realistic scenarios and reflection points
- Questions that help employees bridge the gap between intention and action
You can view a preview and book by clicking here
Contact Us
Matthew Cole – Partner
Louise Plant – Senior Associate
