Getting ahead of sexual harassment risk through culture and communication

From October 2026, UK employers will need to do more to prevent sexual harassment at work, including harassment from third parties such as customers, clients, patients and contractors. Organisations will need to understand where risks exist, show they have taken active steps to prevent harm and not simply respond after something has happened.

Culture, communication and listening all have a critical role to play in helping people understand expectations, recognise risks, speak up safely and build workplaces where harmful behaviour is less likely to be ignored, excused or repeated.

In this Work Wonders session, we’ll look at how communication, culture and listening can help organisations prevent sexual harassment, protect employees and reduce business risk. Hosted by people and culture communications expert Sally Pritchett, the session will include insights from Victoria Dale, a highly accomplished Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant with 20 years’ experience, and Nicola Brown, Partner and Head of Employment at Mayo Wynne Baxter, who will bring the legal perspective.

We will focus on four areas organisations need to consider as they move from reactive response to proactive prevention:

• Understanding risk – recognising where sexual harassment risk may sit across different roles, settings and working environments
• Building awareness – helping people understand what sexual harassment is, how it shows up and why prevention matters
• Supporting safe disclosure – creating the conditions where people feel able to speak up and trust that concerns will be taken seriously
• Strengthening workplace culture – addressing the power dynamics, behaviours and high-risk situations that can allow harm to happen

The session will share practical thinking for HR, People, DEI, internal comms and culture professionals, with ideas to help protect employees, reduce business risk and support safer, more respectful workplaces.