Commentators say businesses risk legal action if they fail to prepare for tougher workplace protections coming into force next Friday
22 October 2026
Dedicated sexual harassment training for managers has become less common among UK employers, research has found.
More than three quarters (78 per cent) lack this training, with the proportion offering it falling from 30 per cent in July to 22 per cent in October, according to polling of 540 HR, L&D and compliance professionals by training provider VinciWorks.
The decline comes as employers prepare for changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025. From Friday next week (30 October), businesses will be required to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment, with new protections covering harassment by third parties such as customers and clients.
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Hannah Strawbridge, employment lawyer and founder of HanLawCo, said the figures were “concerning” given the upcoming changes.
“Managers are on the frontline of dealing with issues. They are often the first to spot problematic behaviour or receive a complaint, and how they respond can make the difference between an issue being resolved quickly and escalating into a costly legal dispute,” she explained.
“The risk for employers isn’t simply that managers don’t know the law. It’s that they fail to...
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