White Ribbon UK has announced the launch of its new Right to Respect campaign throughout June – aimed at creating safer, more respectful and inclusive workplaces.
The campaign has been launched in line with the Worker Protection Act 2023, which came into force in October 2024, placing a new legal duty on employers to proactively prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. It marks a significant shift from reactive interventions and responses, with employers now required to take meaningful steps to ensure the safety and dignity of their employees before harm takes place.
White Ribbon UK is determined to support organisations to reduce inappropriate behaviours in the workplace to zero – with a recent Trades Union Congress survey finding that three in five women have experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse at work.
Right to Respect is about equipping organisations with the tools and resources to create lasting change, with the charity firmly believing that everyone deserves to be and feel respected and safe in all aspects of their lives.
And with a network of over 450 Accredited and Supporter Organisations, White Ribbon UK is providing them with the guidance to create respectful workplace cultures and comply with the new legislation proactively.
Lynne Elliot, CEO of White Ribbon UK, said: “With our ‘Right to Respect’ campaign, White Ribbon UK is supporting employers across the UK to meet their responsibilities and build workplaces where everyone is respected, safe and valued. It’s not that women don’t feel safe at work – they are not safe. 58% of women in a TUC poll in 2023 had experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse at work. And almost the same number (57%) had experienced three or more incidents of bullying at work. This means these are not isolated incidents, and it is not occasional.
“The 2023 Worker Protection Act came into force last October, so employers now have a legal duty to take steps to prevent bullying, harassment and sexual harassment in the workplace – and to keep people safe. We are here to help, and we are determined to make sure employers know their responsibilities and employees know their rights.”
Throughout June, the campaign will highlight best practice and case studies from participating organisations, as well as hosting a series of expert-led webinars and talks featuring representatives from Trades Union Congress, Goodwin Associates LLC, Baringa and Newcastle City Council.
These sessions are designed to help employers translate policy into action and encourage environments where all employees feel valued, heard and protected – and the charity invites all organisations to join the movement and commit to a future where respect is a fundamental right at work.
For more information on White Ribbon, please visit https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/
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