Have you suffered sexual harassment at work?
About sexualharassment.uk
sexualharassment.uk is a free resource explaining the law on workplace sexual harassment in the United Kingdom.
The site sets out what the law says, what your employer is required to do, what options are available if something has happened to you, and what to expect if you take a complaint forward. It is intended to help you understand your position before you decide what, if anything, you want to do about it.
Why sexualharassment.uk exists
Workplace sexual harassment is common. Surveys consistently find that a substantial proportion of UK workers — particularly women — have experienced sexual harassment at work. Despite this, the law in this area is poorly understood. People who have been harassed often do not know whether their treatment is unlawful, what their employer was supposed to do, how they go about reporting concerns, protecting themselves, seeking compensation, the tribunal process and what that involves, or the time limits apply.
The legal framework has also changed. Since 26 October 2024, employers in Great Britain have been under a new duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their workers. That duty sits alongside the existing protections in the Equality Act 2010. The practical effect of these changes is still working through workplaces, HR processes and the tribunal system, and employees are entitled to know how the rules apply to them.
This site aims to fill some of that gap with accurate, plainly written information.
What you will find here
The site covers the main areas an employee is likely to need to understand, including:
- what the law defines as sexual harassment, and how it differs from related concepts like harassment related to sex and victimisation.
- the protections in the Equality Act 2010 and how they apply to employees, workers, job applicants, agency staff and contractors
- the employer’s preventative duty and what “reasonable steps” means in practice.
- third party harassment — harassment by customers, clients, patients and others who are not colleagues.
- raising a concern internally: grievances, informal complaints, whistleblowing and what to expect.
- the role of ACAS early conciliation.
- bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal, including time limits (which are short), compensation, and the process.
- non-disclosure agreements, settlement agreements and confidentiality clauses.
- protection from being treated badly for complaining (victimisation)
- specific issues affecting particular groups, including pregnant workers, disabled workers, LGBT+ workers and those on insecure contracts.
What this site is not
This site provides information and guidance, not legal advice. Every situation turns on its own facts, and the law is applied by tribunals to the evidence in front of them. Reading this site is not a substitute for speaking to a solicitor about your own circumstances
We also do not provide therapeutic or counselling support. Sexual harassment can have a serious effect on mental health. If you are struggling, please consider speaking to your GP or contacting a specialist support organisation — some of which are signposted in the relevant sections of this site.
Sexualharassment.uk is operated by Bolt Law Limited, a company registered in England and Wales, company number 15436267.
Registered Office: Foxhaven, Mill Lane, Chester, CH3 7JQ. Bolt Law is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, registration reference: ZB683644.