Alarming Findings One Year On: Millions Still Facing Workplace Harassment

One in Five UK Adults Concerned About Sexual Harassment at Work

One year after the Worker Protection Act (2023) came into force, new research by High Speed Training has revealed that one in five UK adults remain concerned about sexual harassment in the workplace.

The legislation, which came into effect in October 2024, placed a legal duty on employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment at work. It shifted responsibility from employees to employers, ensuring greater protection and support for anyone who experiences unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature.

However, a recent YouGov survey commissioned by High Speed Training found that only 55% of UK workers are confident their employers have acted on this duty.

Alarming Levels of Workplace Misconduct

The survey, which included over 2,200 UK adults, revealed that 10% of workers said they had witnessed behaviour in the past year they considered to be sexual harassment. Only 62% felt confident that their workplace would handle a report of sexual harassment effectively.

Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, explained:

“The term ‘sexual harassment’ refers to any sort of unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that has this effect. Anybody who experiences unwanted sexual behaviour, whether this be verbal, physical or digital, is a victim of sexual harassment.”

Examples of sexual harassment include:

• Inappropriate comments, jokes, remarks, emails, or messages.

• Sexual propositions or bribes.

• Inappropriate social media comments.

• Hand gestures or facial expressions of a sexual nature.

• Unwanted physical contact, including touching, hugging and all forms of sexual assault.

Younger Workers Report Higher Exposure

The research also uncovered sharp generational differences. Respondents aged 18 to 24 were more than three times as likely to have witnessed sexual harassment in the workplace as those aged 45 and over (18% vs 5%).

This may suggest that younger employees are either encountering more inappropriate behaviour or are more aware of recognising it in a post-#MeToo era. Younger workers may also be more likely to hold junior or entry-level roles, making them more vulnerable and less confident in challenging misconduct.

Millions Potentially Affected

Dr Anderson added:

“A year on from the introduction of the new Worker Protection Act, our research has shown that there is still lots of work to be done.

“If we expand our findings to the whole of the UK workforce, which the ONS estimated to be 36.9 million people in December 2024, these findings would suggest that nearly 3 million people have witnessed sexual harassment in the workplace in the last 12 months, underlining the need for the new legislation, and showing just how much work employers need to do to ensure that everyone feels safe and supported at work.

“A strong workplace culture, one that promotes transparency, trust and inclusivity, is built by visible and consistent action and investment. For organisations looking to demonstrate their commitment, comprehensive sexual harassment training is a great place to start.”

Surge in Training Uptake

Since the Worker Protection Act came into effect, High Speed Training has reported a 1,500% increase in companies enrolling staff on its Sexual Harassment Training for Employees course. Uptake of its Sexual Harassment Training for Managers has also surged by 2,234%.

For more information and to read the full report, visit High Speed Training