A year after the Worker Protection Act came into force, a new study has revealed that one in five UK adults are still worried about sexual harassment in the workplace, with one in ten saying they have personally witnessed inappropriate behaviour at work in the past year.
The Act, which became law in October 2024, requires employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment and protect employees from inappropriate conduct. But a new YouGov survey commissioned by High Speed Training suggests that many organisations are still failing to meet the law’s spirit.
Of more than 2,200 UK adults surveyed, just 55% said they felt confident their employer had acted to comply with the new legislation. Meanwhile, only 62% of respondents believed their workplace would handle a report of sexual harassment effectively.
Dr Richard Anderson, Head of Learning and Development at High Speed Training, said: “Anybody who experiences unwanted sexual behaviour, whether verbal, physical or digital, is a victim of sexual harassment. A year on from the introduction of the Act, there’s still a great deal of work to do to ensure people feel safe and supported at work.”
The research found that young workers aged 18–24 were more than three times as likely to witness behaviour they considered harassment compared with those aged 45 and over (18% versus 5%). Analysts say this may reflect both greater exposure and increased awareness among younger workers entering the workforce after the #MeToo movement.
High Speed Training said the figures highlight the continued need for training and culture change, not just policy. Since the Worker Protection Act came into force, demand for its online courses on workplace conduct has surged, up 1,500% for employee training and 2,200% for manager courses.
Dr Anderson added: “If we apply these figures across the UK workforce, nearly three million people have witnessed sexual harassment in the past year. That underlines how much work remains to ensure safety, dignity and respect in every workplace.”
The company says robust sexual-harassment training, transparent reporting systems, and visible accountability are key steps for organisations aiming to meet their legal and moral obligations.
