It's All About People - 20th March 2025

READ TIME - 3 minute read

On Monday this week I spent an entire day filming content for our new e-learning platform and also bitesize learning sessions for our HR Hub. Watch this space for more details and the launch of our e-learning CMI programmes (or email me if you want to be on the waiting list).

Of course the very first e-learning course we launched last year has been selling very well, and the topic of Sexual Harassment Awareness is the focus of today’s email.

I have written about this before but I make no apologies for covering it again - as so many organisations are still not meeting their obligations.

This puts team members at risk and also organisations who would struggle to defend a claim from someone who has either been subject to sexual harassment at work, or makes a claim to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that their employer is putting them at risk.

You may have seen the latest news at the weekend in to the ongoing issues at McDonald’s, with employees have reported a toxic culture, with hundreds of complaints of sexual harassment—and subsequent legal action.

The ECHR has now written to all 1,400 branches (including all franchisees) telling them they must comply with their legal duties, or risk enforcement action

What I still find shocking is how many organisations still haven’t taken action to protect their people and stay compliant with the new UK laws that came in last October. Since we last wrote about this, we've had hundreds of new subscribers join this newsletter—so if you're new here, this is your reminder that "we didn’t know" won’t be a defence.

🚨 The law has changed 🚨
From October 2024, employers have a legal duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. You can download our guidance here, but in summary it means:
✅ You must take proactive steps—waiting for a complaint isn’t enough. Make sure you have an up to date risk assessment that is reviewed regularly.
✅ Managers need training to spot and handle concerns properly
✅ Employees must be clear on what is and isn’t acceptable
✅ You need robust reporting processes—and staff must feel safe using them

📢 What should you do now?

✅ Make sure your policy is up to date, and if you don’t have one them make that a priority
✅ Make sure you have a risk assessment and that it is reviewed regularly and any actions taken
✅ Awareness training for all - you see our options here 

Until next time….

Emma

P.S. If you're a member of our HR Hub, then we have all the documents you can find all the supporting documents you need in there for you.

P.P.S.  If you are not a Hub member why not give it for FREE for a month. You can do that here.

Events to Join in the coming weeks (click on the links to join us)

^{HR Clinic - FREE to all. 10th April 12-1pm}

^{Lunch & Learn: Understanding and Enforcing Restrictive Covenants Support - free to all clients, £35+VAT for non-clients). 24th April 12-1pm}

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