Employers warned of new third-party harassment law taking effect

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 04:02 · Archive

New third-party harassment regulations came into force on 30 October under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The changes require employers to take 'all reasonable steps' to prevent employees from being harassed by third parties such as customers, clients, service users and contractors. Third-party harassment includes behaviour that violates dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. The new requirements apply to all workers and cover all nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including age, disability, gender reassignment and race.

H-J Dobbie, head of HR consultancy at Azets, said the legislation 'restores and strengthens protections which were removed when Section 40 of the Equality Act was repealed in 2013'. She warned that 'simply having a policy sitting on a shelf will not be enough if a tribunal asks what practical action was taken to protect their workforce'. Employers need to actively consider where third-party harassment risks arise and what preventative steps they have taken.

The previous legal framework did not give employees a direct statutory route to claim unless criminal conduct or a health and safety breach was involved, but this has changed under the new rules. Employers who fail to comply could face costly employment tribunals or action from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

How it is being reported

• Employers warned to act as new third-party harassment rules come into forceEmployers are being warned to take action now to avoid falling foul of changes to harassment lawsSouthern Daily Echo · 14 Oct, 03:30
• Portsmouth employers urged to act now as new third-party harassment liability approachesEmployers in Portsmouth and Hampshire are being warned to be fully compliant with new third party harassment laws which come into force later this month or face severe consequences.The News, Portsmouth · 13 Oct, 16:06

In this story: Portsmouth · Hampshire · Azets · H-J Dobbie · Equality and Human Rights Commission

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem