The new proactive duty on employers to take "reasonable steps" to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace has been introduced. This new duty is designed to strengthen protections for employees and encourage employers to foster safer workplace environments. The new duty covers Proactive Prevention and Third-party harassment.

This course will ensure you understand what constitutes sexual harassment and the difference between ‘banter’ and harassment. It is not about political correctness but about a legal duty of employers and how they can take steps to prevent harassment from happening in the first place.

This course contains the following modules:

1. What is sexual harassment - In this module we will look at what sexual harassment id, how content, impact and intent differentiate 'banter' from sexual harassment. We will dismiss myths around sexual harassment, where and when it can happen and the impact on the victim. Finally we will look at the consequences for both the harasser and the employer.  

2. Tackling sexual harassment - In this module  we will look at the different forms sexual harassment can take, including verbal, physical, non-verbal, visual, sexual favouritism, or hostility, and cyber sexual harassment, reflecting on case studies of each. We will examine who is vulnerable to sexual harassment, characteristics of perpetrators and risk factors. Finally, we will look at the importance of your behaviour, ways to create a positive workplace, assertive behaviour, bystander intervention and what to do if your behaviour is called out.

3. Policy, procedure and good practice - In this module we will focus on the employer's duty of care to ensure the welfare of their employees in the workplace and the different ways in which they can do this. We'll consider how employees have a personal responsibility to contribute to a positive work environment and what to do if you experience sexual harassment and/or if a crime has been committed. 

This course takes learners approx 1.5 hours to complete.