Is your business ready for the new harassment duties?
From 30 October 2026, you can be held liable if a customer, client or member of the public harasses your staff, unless you can show you took all reasonable steps to prevent it. We'll help you work out where you stand and what to do next, in plain English.
- Free, no obligation
- 15 minutes, by phone
- Written action plan
- London-based UK company
The bar for employers has gone up
The Employment Rights Act 2025 strengthens harassment law in two important ways. Businesses with customer-facing staff are the most exposed.
"Reasonable steps" becomes "all reasonable steps"
Since October 2024, employers have had a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their staff. From 30 October 2026, that duty becomes all reasonable steps, which is a noticeably higher standard.
Liability for third-party harassment
You can now be liable when customers, clients, suppliers or members of the public harass your workers, unless you took all reasonable steps to prevent it. This covers harassment related to any protected characteristic, not only sexual harassment.
A policy alone is unlikely to be enough
Employment specialists widely advise that a written policy plus once-a-year training will rarely meet the "all reasonable steps" test. What counts depends on your size, your sector and the risks your staff face.
Sources: Acas: harassment law changes. This page is general information, not legal advice. See how we work.
If your staff serve the public, this is about you
Most harassment of front-line staff comes from customers, not colleagues. That's exactly the risk the new third-party rules target.
Why acting now protects your business
- Compensation in harassment claims is uncapped under the Equality Act 2010.
- Tribunals can increase sexual harassment awards by up to 25% where an employer has breached the prevention duty.
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission can take enforcement action against employers that fail the duty.
- Visible, practical steps also help you keep good staff and deter bad behaviour on the shop floor.
How ready is your business?
Answer six quick questions for an instant indication of where you stand. Nothing is stored or sent.
1. Do you have a written harassment policy that specifically covers harassment by customers and the public?
2. Have you completed a risk assessment of where and when your staff could face harassment (e.g. late shifts, alcohol, lone working)?
3. Do you display clear signage telling customers that abuse and harassment of staff won't be tolerated?
4. Can a member of staff call for help quickly and discreetly if they feel threatened, including when working alone?
5. Do staff know exactly how to report an incident, and do you keep a record of what happened and what you did?
6. Have staff had training or a briefing on the new rules in the last 12 months?
This is an indicative self-check only. It does not assess your legal position.
15 minutes. A clear plan. No jargon.
A friendly phone call with one of our readiness associates. We walk through your setup and leave you with a short written action plan you can use whether or not you buy anything from us.
Book a time
Pick a slot that suits you. Calls run Monday to Friday and take about 15 minutes.
Talk it through
We review your customer-facing risks, your policy, how staff call for help and how incidents get recorded.
Get your action plan
You'll receive a short written summary of gaps and practical next steps, prioritised for a business your size.
Opening up, closing down, working alone
This isn't new law, but it's often overlooked. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, you must assess and manage the risks to staff who work alone.
- Assess when staff are alone: early opens, late closes, cash-ups and quiet shifts.
- Make sure they can raise an alarm and share their location fast.
- Agree who responds, and how quickly.
- Review it whenever something changes or an incident happens.
See HSE guidance: Protecting lone workers.
Practical steps you can put in place this week
If your check-in shows gaps, our Business Safety Pack gives you visible deterrence on site and a fast way for staff to get help, at a fraction of the cost of dedicated lone-worker devices.
- Poster & signage pack, including on-site CAUTION stickers, so customers know harassment of staff isn't tolerated.
- One-tap SOS alerts that share a worker's live GPS location with chosen responders, with a route to 999.
- Responders get the right first-aid guidance video, so they can help on arrival.
- Ride to the nearest A&E through the Uber integration, when needed.
- Customer loyalty tools included to help bring regulars back.
One-off, includes CAUTION stickers
App protection for your team
Covers two employees
Up to 93% cheaper than typical dedicated lone-worker device subscriptions, based on GodsOwnApp's price comparison. Prices in GBP. Cancel the monthly plan any time. The Safety Pack is one practical step and does not by itself guarantee compliance.
Straightforward about who we are
We'd rather earn your trust than surprise you, so here's exactly how this works.
Who runs HRLawAssist
HRLawAssist is an employer-readiness service operated by Gods Own App Limited, a London company. It is powered by GodsOwnApp, our staff-safety platform.
What we are not
We are not a law firm and we don't give legal advice. Our check-ins offer general, practical guidance. For advice on your situation, speak to a qualified employment solicitor or contact Acas.
How we're paid
The check-in is free. If it's useful, we may suggest our Business Safety Pack. There's no obligation to buy, and your action plan is yours to keep either way.
Common questions
Is the Compliance Check-in legal advice?
No. It's general, practical guidance to help you understand the new duties and spot gaps. We're not a law firm. If you need advice on a specific situation or claim, speak to a qualified employment solicitor or Acas.
Do I have to buy anything?
No. The check-in is free and you keep your action plan. If our Business Safety Pack would help, we'll explain it. The decision is entirely yours.
Who counts as a "third party"?
Broadly, anyone who isn't your employee but whom your staff deal with at work: customers, clients, patients, suppliers, contractors, delivery drivers and members of the public.
I only have two or three staff. Does this apply to me?
Yes. The duties apply to employers of all sizes. What counts as "all reasonable steps" will depend on your size and resources, so a small café won't be expected to do the same as a national chain. It will still be expected to take sensible, proportionate action.
Will posters and an app make me compliant?
On their own, no single product can guarantee compliance. "All reasonable steps" usually means several things together: a clear policy, a risk assessment, staff briefing, visible deterrence, a way to get help fast and a record of incidents. The Business Safety Pack covers some of these, and your action plan covers the rest.
What happens to my details?
We use your details only to arrange and follow up your check-in. We never sell your data. See our privacy notice.
Get clarity in 15 minutes
Tell us a little about your business and when suits you. A readiness associate will confirm your slot by phone or email.
- Free and no obligation
- A written action plan you can keep
- Plain English, no jargon
- Prefer email? Write to cs@godsownapp.com