Experts urge businesses to strengthen reporting procedures and preventative measures ahead of employment law reforms
13 October 2026
Inappropriate workplace behavior remains a concern for UK employees, with many witnessing or experiencing incidents, research has suggested.
Half (48 per cent) had experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior, while 66 per cent lacked full confidence that those reporting it would be adequately protected, according to a survey of 1,000 UK employees by workplace training provider iHasco.
Inappropriate touching was among the behaviours considered most serious (22 per cent), followed by sexist comments, sexual jokes and sharing sexually explicit content (19 per cent each).
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Victoria Jackson, legal director at employment law, HR and health and safety firm AfterAthena, said the findings raised concerns about employees’ confidence in reporting inappropriate behaviour.
“If people do not feel safe reporting inappropriate behaviour, problems can remain hidden, and workplace cultures are unlikely to change,” she added.
The findings come ahead of changes to sexual harassment laws on 30 October 2026, which will require employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
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