United Kingdom: Discrimination, Disability & Sexual Harassment

U.K. employers face significant new obligations regarding sexual harassment prevention, including expanded whistleblowing protections for those reporting harassment and a heightened duty to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent harassment from both employees and third parties. These changes, taking effect between April and October 2026, require comprehensive risk assessments, updated policies, and robust training programs to avoid potential compensation uplifts of up to 25%.

On 21 May 2026, the EHRC’s updated Services Code of Practice was laid in Parliament by the Minister for Women and Equalities, Bridget Phillipson.

Employment Tribunal claims have surged by 54% in Q3 2025 compared to the previous year, driven by increases in whistleblowing and discrimination cases, as well as AI-enabled claim preparation by unrepresented parties. With the Employment Rights Act 2025 provisions yet to take full effect and no significant investment in tribunal resources, the system faces mounting delays and cancellations that threaten workers' ability to enforce their rights.