UK employers face liability under new third-party harassment laws

Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, which came into force on 30 October 2026, employers in the UK are now liable for the harassment of staff by third parties. This includes harassment from customers, contractors, and members of the public.

The new legislation extends protections beyond sexual harassment to include any harassment related to the nine protected characteristics defined under the Equality Act 2010, such as race, age, gender, and religion.

To comply, businesses are urged to review their policies and conduct risk assessments. Employers must be able to demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable steps to identify and reduce the risk of harassment based on who employees interact with and the circumstances of those interactions.