Harassment (HR Inner Circle Employment Law Library)

Harassment claims keep rising - and so do the awards. With tribunal compensation reaching £4.6 million in one landmark case and the Employment Rights Act 2025 removing caps on unfair dismissal awards, employers can no longer afford to get this wrong.

The legal landscape is changing rapidly. The preventative duty for sexual harassment has tightened, third-party harassment protection is returning, and unfair dismissal qualifying periods are dropping to six months for new hires. Each tribunal case continues to redefine acceptable workplace conduct.

Preventing Harassment gives practical, up-to-date guidance to help organisations protect both their people and their business. Written specifically for UK HR professionals by leading employment law barrister Daniel Barnett and employment law journalist Jackie Le Poidevin, this book cuts through legal complexity and focuses on what works in practice.

What You’ll Learn

The Legal Framework

• What counts as harassment under the Equality Act 2010
• Employer duties under the Worker Protection Act 2023 and Employment Rights Act 2025
• When the ‘all reasonable steps’ defence succeeds - and when it fails
• The financial and reputational cost of getting it wrong

The Banter Problem

• Where tribunals draw the line between workplace camaraderie and unlawful harassment
• Why employees laughing along does not always mean conduct is welcome
• When ‘office culture’ becomes a legal risk

Prevention Strategies

• Why policies alone will not protect employers
• How to conduct meaningful risk assessments
• The difference between taking ‘reasonable steps’ and ‘all reasonable steps’

Third-Party Harassment

• Employer liability for harassment by customers, clients and contractors
• What tribunals will expect under the new legal framework
• Sector-specific risks across hospitality, healthcare and professional services

Handling Complaints Fairly

• How to investigate complaints whilst protecting everyone involved
• Managing sickness absence during investigations
• Avoiding victimisation and retaliation
• Settlement agreements, NDAs and fabricated complaints

The Difficult Cases

• Anonymous complaints
• Autism and other conditions as mitigation
• Conflicting beliefs and free speech issues
• Single-sex facilities and the current legal uncertainty

Why This Book?

Every chapter draws on real tribunal decisions, showing what employers did right, what they got wrong, and the lessons HR professionals can apply immediately.

Written for HR professionals rather than lawyers, the book provides clear explanations, practical frameworks and actionable guidance without unnecessary jargon.

It also covers the latest developments, including the Employment Rights Act 2025, third-party harassment provisions, EHRC guidance and recent Supreme Court decisions on single-sex facilities.

About the Authors

Daniel Barnett is a leading employment law barrister, founder of the HR Inner Circle and host of Employment Law Matters. He has written more than 30 employment law books and regularly presents seminars for organisations including Acas, the BBC and Oxford University.

Jackie Le Poidevin is an experienced employment law journalist and former editor of the Employment Law Journal, writing extensively for major legal publishers.

Who This Book Is For

• HR managers and directors
• People and culture professionals
• Business owners and senior leaders
• Employment law solicitors
• Anyone responsible for preventing harassment and handling complaints

Don’t wait for a tribunal claim - focus on prevention now.