29 October 2024

New protections from sexual harassment come into force

Employers now have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.

Since 26 October 2024, employees can expect their employers to take reasonable steps to protect them from sexual harassment as a new duty comes into force.

Employers now have a duty to anticipate when sexual harassment may occur and take reasonable steps to prevent it. If sexual harassment has taken place, an employer should take action to stop it from happening again. This sends a clear signal to all employers that they must take reasonable preventative steps against sexual harassment, encourage cultural change where necessary, and reduce the likelihood of sexual harassment occurring.

  • New duty under the Equality Act 2010 will require employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees.
  • New guidance for employers on how they can protect their staff.
  • New measure comes into force as further legislation goes through Parliament to boost economic growth by tackling poor productivity, insecure work and broken industrial relations.

We've Got You Covered!

Great news! As part of your membership, we've developed the resources to help you implement the new Worker Protection Act requirements.

New Resources Includes:

  • Ready-to-use staff handbook
  • Template letters for team communications
  • Step-by-step implementation guides
  • Customisable risk assessment forms
  • Practical checklists and factsheets

Click here to access the Member only exclusive resource pack.

 

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 website and toolkit launched

Preparations are underway for the 18th annual celebration of apprenticeships and skills and the contributions they make to businesses and communities.

Individuals, employers, and partners from across England are gearing up for National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2025 following the launch of a new website and communications toolkit.

National Apprenticeship Week will take place 10-16 February 2025, with people from across the country being asked to get involved by sharing the good work apprentices do. NAW will highlight how apprenticeships are an excellent option to consider for young people wishing to start a career, for employees looking to progress in their current role or retrain for a new career, or for employers needing to fill skills gaps to help grow their businesses.

The NAW website and toolkit contain support and guidance on how to get involved. This includes social media graphics, key apprenticeship messages, facts and figures, graduation toolkits, and advice so that individuals and businesses can explore the full range of benefits that apprenticeships offer.

 

Government needs to provide greater direction to the skills system, says Lords committee

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, led by Baroness Taylor of Bolton, has called on the Government to improve apprenticeships and training programs to better align with the UK’s future skills needs. In a letter to the Minister for Skills, concerns were raised about the complexity and short-term focus of the current skills system, as well as dissatisfaction with the Apprenticeship Levy, which is set to transition to the Growth and Skills Levy.

The inquiry revealed that apprenticeships often focus on older workers, limiting opportunities for youth. Additionally, some programs are excessively academic, and effective local partnerships between employers and educators are necessary without duplicating national processes. The UK also lags behind in fostering a culture of employer-led training, with employers hesitant to invest due to staff turnover risks. There is also a lack of clarity regarding the proposed youth guarantee for education and training access.

 

Campaigning for you – House of Lords skills inquiry

The NHBF submitted evidence to the House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee inquiry into skills for the future: apprenticeships and training at the end of September. The NHBF is quoted twice in the Committee’s report calling for levy funds to better support apprentices and underlining the importance of employer incentives to small employers taking on apprentices. The Committee will meet with Jacqui Smith the Skills Minister in the Department for Education (DfE) and Alison McGovern, Minister for Employment in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 26 November and will question them about findings and recommendations in their report.