New Protections Against Sexual Harassment: Howden Employee Benefits and Our Safer City Call on Employers to Take Action

Howden Employee Benefits has partnered with the City of London Crime Prevention Association (CoLCPA) to host the launch of the ‘Our Safer City – Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’ initiative. This launch coincides with the implementation of the Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010), which came into effect on 26 October 2024. This legislation mandates employers to adopt measures to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

The launch event, held at Howden’s London headquarters, gathered key stakeholders, including Lady Mayoress Elisabeth Mainelli and business leaders, to emphasise the importances of creating safer workplaces. The ‘Our Safer City’ initiative aims to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG) and domestic abuse (DA) through collaborative public-private partnerships. Key projects include establishing Safe Havens across the City of London, a Safe Haven app, taxi marshalling services, and promoting the Ask for Angela scheme.

Lady Mayoress Elisabeth Mainelli praised the initiative, stating: “The City of London is a great place to work, but it must feel safe. Research clearly shows there’s work to be done. Business leaders have a critical role to play in supporting initiatives like Our Safer City, which are crucial to making the workplace safer for everyone.”

Cheryl Brennan, Managing Director of Howden Employee Benefits, addressed the role of employers in preventing sexual harassment: “Employers have an important role to play in creating a safe and inclusive workplace, as well as supporting employees who may be affected by domestic violence or sexual harassment. We’re proud to support Our Safer City in their mission to educate and create safer cities. With the new legislation in place, we encourage employers to consider their approach and introduce policies that prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. It is not just the right thing to do, but it will help to create a positive and safe culture, benefiting talent recruitment and retention while improving workplace wellbeing.”

Don Randall MBE, Founder of Our Safer City and Chair of the CoLCPA, discussed the charity’s mission: “Our goal is to prevent violence against women and girls by forming partnerships with organisations throughout the City of London and beyond. We have already doubled the number of Ask for Angela sites and now have over 100 Safe Havens in place. With new legislation now in place, it is more important than ever for businesses to understand their role in creating safer workplaces.”

Susan Bright, CEO of the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA) said: “Small actions can make an enormous difference — like keeping the office open as a safe space, adjusting work patterns, or providing paid time off. People cannot perform at their best, or at all, if they are facing challenges at home. Employers must play their part in offering support.”

Helen Murphie, an employment lawyer, explained the implications of the new legislation: “Employers are now required to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment. Companies need to ensure they have robust policies in place and conduct risk assessments. Failure to act could result in significant fines, and businesses will be held accountable for not having taken ‘reasonable steps’ to safeguard their employees.”

Howden Employee Benefits’ partnership with Our Safer City reaffirms its commitment to promoting safety and wellbeing in the workplace.

For more information on the initiative and how to get involved, visit Our Safer City.

Image: Unsplash