Soundbite: EHRC refreshes its technical guidance

EHRC refreshes its technical guidance

The equality regulator, EHRC has refreshed its technical guidance on harassment at work as well as its concise 8-step guide for employers on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. The guidance reflects new responsibilities for employers under the Employment Rights Act 2025 which took effect from 30 October 2026.

The updated guidance now reflects the strengthened duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment and the reintroduction of liability for third-party harassment.

The message is clear; employers must actively identify risks, carry out and regularly review risk assessments and implement every reasonable measure available. Simply having a policy in place will not be enough. With customers, clients and other third parties now back in scope, employers should ensure their training, reporting procedures, contractual arrangements and workplace culture are fit for purpose and regularly reviewed. Failure to do so could leave organisations exposed to claims and adverse publicity.

Workplace training is more important than ever

The updated guidance reinforces that preventing harassment is not a one-off exercise. Employers should ensure that staff understand expected standards of behaviour, how to raise concerns and how complaints will be handled. Managers and HR teams should also be trained on their specific responsibilities, including identifying risks, responding appropriately to concerns and complying with the enhanced preventative duty.

Bradshaw Trees can help organisations meet these requirements through bespoke face-to-face training or online training sessions tailored to your business. We provide training for all staff, as well as more detailed sessions for senior managers, HR professionals and leadership teams on the practical steps needed to comply with the new and existing legal obligations. If you would like assistance reviewing your current arrangements or delivering training within your organisation, please do get in touch.