On Employment: Employers’ duties around sexual harassment and the Employment Rights Bill

Autumn 2024 delivered one of the busiest legislative periods for UK employment law in years. A new obligation requiring employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment came into force. At the same time, the Employment Rights Bill introduced sweeping changes to fire and rehire practices, third-party harassment obligations, and trade union law. For HR professionals and employment lawyers, keeping pace with the practical implications has been a significant challenge.  Sarah Henchoz, global head of employment litigation at A&O Shearman, breaks down what these changes mean in practice.   What actually constitutes "reasonable steps" for the purposes of the new sexual harassment duty? What are the less-publicized elements of the Employment Rights Bill that HR teams risk overlooking? And how are the proposed changes to fire and rehire and trade union law likely to alter the landscape for employers dealing with workforce restructuring?  HR leaders and in-house counsel managing the current wave of employment law reform will leave this episode with a clear view of the obligations that have landed, the ones on the horizon, and the practical steps to take now.  On Employment delivers timely insights and practical guidance on the fast-evolving world of employment law. Each episode explores key legal developments, workplace trends, and HR strategy challenges—from investigations and litigation risk to diversity, hybrid working, and regulatory change. Designed for business leaders, HR professionals, and in-house counsel, the series offers expert perspectives to help organizations navigate complexity and foster resilient, compliant workplaces.