Many are going to find this challenging because it means they will be expected to demonstrate what they are doing to change behaviours within their organisation, rather than simply managing bad behaviour if it is reported.
Read more: Proactively preventing sexual harassment in the workplace
If you are tempted to kick this issue into the long grass, I challenge you to take a look at some of the sexual harassment figures, such as:
- 79% of workplace sexual harassment victims never report their experiences (Trades Union Congress).
- 40% of women experience sexual harassment at some time in their lives (Fawcett Society).
- Nearly one in 10 NHS staff in England suffered sexual harassment from patients, patients’ relatives or other members of the public in 2023 (NHS Annual Staff Survey).
The stats tell the same clear story: lots of women experience sexual harassment and most incidents are not reported. Which means it is highly likely that sexual harassment could occur in your organisation and in future you will need to show you have taken the right steps to prevent this, to protect your reputation and avoid financial penalties.
When the Worker Protection Act comes into force on October 27, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will have the power to take enforcement action against organisations found in breach of the new regulations. Alongside this, employees who have experienced sexual harassment and who also prove their employer didn’t take "all reasonable" preventative steps, can have their compensation uplifted by 25% by an employment tribunal.
I know this is sobering reading, so let’s get to how you can move your organisation to the next level of compliance and readiness.
To demonstrate you have taken all ‘reasonable steps’ you will need to embed a positive culture – one which is welcoming to all, and safe for both women and men in the workforce. At a practical level, you will need to show that you have clearly communicated expectations to your workforce on how you expect them to behave. And what they should do if they witness or experience sexual harassment so that instances are reported and dealt with effectively.
As a digital learning specialist, I want to reassure you there are resources already available which can be deployed quickly, and which won’t break the bank, to help you prepare for this change.
When it comes to culture change, our clients frequently choose a programme of digital learning, which includes different types of e-learning interventions to immerse and engage the workforce in the subject. For over 18 years, we’ve worked with a variety of clients providing innovative e-learning solutions that will do more than simply instruct on what is expected.
They also enable learners to work through different scenarios so they can explore their own ideas, the potential impact on others and the business, and really get to understand the nuances around such a sensitive subject. This is especially important when you are dealing with a topic where understanding differs greatly, and people’s views vary across the generations.
At Me Learning, we have developed a comprehensive e-learning package Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace which actively encourages positive behaviours around this topic. Our learning is CPD accredited and readily available to either plug into your own learning management platform or via our own LMS.
Using a range of seven learning interventions which contain different techniques to ensure content is engaging and learners remain focused, this is the ideal training solution to embed continuous and progressive learning. These learning interventions are also strategically placed and paced to prevent the steep decline seen in traditional methods, maintaining retention levels above 80%.
This consistent reinforcement ensures that organisations can guarantee risk mitigation, knowledge retention and most importantly, a lasting culture change. And information is relayed in bite-sized chunks within contextual, realistic scenarios.
Our e-learning package includes:
- A Skill Reel – a short, tailored engagement video which sets context.
- A 45-minute course: An in-depth module on what constitutes sexual harassment and how to address it.
- Three Skill Sparks – Five-minute bite-sized modules which delve deeper into a selection of topics.
- Two Skill Boosts – 10-minute modules which learners can return to later to top up their skills through refresher training.
As with all our learning, this e-learning package has been built from scratch using some of the best digital methods and it has been tried and tested by a variety of organisations in healthcare, emergency services, management consultancy, sport, education, banking, finance, local government and the non-profit sectors.
Some of our clients have gone a step further and have commissioned us to develop a tailored version of the package, with their own branding and scenarios worked into the suite of learning. For example, we are working currently with a premier league football club on this. We have also now developed a sports version for sports clubs and a health version tailored specifically for the health sector which has been designed to reflect the unique demands of healthcare environments.
This not another tick-box exercise. We actually find that it is the best option for creating holistic behaviour change because of its consistency in message, ability to fully engage learners and to aid memory retention. Availability of learning 24/7 also makes it easier for learners to fit learning around work and other commitments, encouraging them to find time to learn.
Creating innovative digital and blended learning solutions is what we do. We are always happy to show you what good looks like to help you make the right choice for your organisation, by walking you through our learning and through demonstrations where needed.
The time to act is now. The clock is ticking. Join the growing number of organisations taking a preventative approach and leading the way for a safer, more productive future. Click here or email Shirley Berry at shirley.berry@melearning.co.uk to find out more.
About Me Learning:
We are at the forefront of the market with regards to adopting evidence-based techniques and technology to make our learning more engaging and effective. Drawing from our own research, alongside the University of Sussex, our learning interventions are transforming the way learners retain and apply knowledge. We will work as an extension of your training team, complementing and enhancing your services and solutions by bringing specialist skills and knowledge or adding capacity.
Whatever the size of your workforce and however diverse their learning needs, our solutions are quick and easy to deploy, available to users 24/7, and help you maximise your return on investment.
We are experts at creating learning for software adoption; transformation programmes; new ways of working; cultural change, leadership development and compliance topics.
Shirley Berry is director of strategic solutions at Me Learning
