Many companies remain unprepared for new legal duties to prevent inappropriate conduct set to take effect in October, as experts warn against a ‘tick box’ approach
16 July 2026
With less than three months to prepare for tougher legal duties to prevent workplace sexual harassment, many managers remain unequipped to deal with complaints when they arise, research suggests.
One in five employers (21 per cent) offer no specific sexual harassment training for managers, who are often the first to receive complaints, according to a study of 985 UK HR and compliance professionals by e-learning provider VinciWorks.
Only 30 per cent of employers provide dedicated sexual harassment training for managers, while a third (32 per cent) only include it in general staff training.
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Nick Henderson-Mayo, head of compliance at VinciWorks, said how managers respond in the first hour after a harassment report can make or break employee trust.
“If that manager is not equipped for the moment, then neither is the business standing behind them. A lack of proper, role-specific training is one of the clearest risks,” he added.
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