Sexual safety in the workplace
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Sexual Safety in the Workplace: a resource for employees & employers
Sexual safety in the workplace is a fundamental right for all employees. This resource page aims to provide some guidance and information of where to find support whether an employee or employer to maintain a safe and respectful work environment.
Understanding Sexual Safety in the workplace
Sexual safety refers to the protection of individuals from any form of sexual harassment, assault, or misconduct in the workplace. It encompasses creating an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.
The Equality Act 2010 defines two types of sexual harassment:
- Unwanted conduct of a sexual nature
- Harassment because of your rejection or submission to the conduct. Being treated “less favourably” because of your reaction to the harassment, irrespective of accepting or rejecting.
If you need support, whether as an employee or employer, please find details of helplines and organisations below.
Employee support available
Provides confidential, specialist support for victims of sexual assault. To find your nearest one, use the NHS website's search tool
How SARCs help:
- Crisis support
- Medical care
- SARC can perform examinations to collect evidence, which can be stored for future use if you decide to report the assault to the police. They will not force you to report it to the police.
- Specialist support by providing referrals to other services, such as specialist counselling and Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs).
Rape Crisis England & Wales:
Provides support and information who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or any other form of sexual violence - at any point in their life.
This includes people of all genders who have experienced sexual violence or abuse, as well as anyone supporting them.
- 24/7 Helpline: 0808 500 2222
- Website: https://rapecrisis.org.uk
Rape Crisis Northern Ireland:
Listening, Believing & Support for All
- Information and support line: 0800 0246 991
- Website: https://rapecrisisni.org.uk/
Rape Crisis Scotland:
They support people of all genders living in Scotland aged 13+ who have been affected by sexual violence. It doesn't matter what happened or how long ago. They support survivors, as well as family, friends and supporters.
- Helpline: 08088 01 03 02
- Website: https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/
Operate a free, confidential national online helpline
- Helpline: 020 3598 3898
- Website: https://www.survivorsuk.org
Offer a free, confidential and independent helpline and support service for all LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual assault, violence or abuse.
- National Helpline: 0800 999 5428
- Website: https://www.galop.org.uk/
They offer a wide range of specialist support services for those who need them, designed by LGBTQ+ People, for LGBTQ+ People.
Website: https://lgbt.foundation/help/services/
Helpline: 0345 3 30 30 30
The Survivors Trust has 120 member organisations based in the UK & Ireland which provide specialist support for women, men and children who have survived rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.
- Website: https://thesurvivorstrust.org/
- Helpline: 0808 801 0818
If you need someone to talk to, they will listen. They won't judge or tell you what to do.
Call: 116 123
Website: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Provide free and confidential specialist help for those affected by crime.
England & Wales: https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
Scotland: https://victimsupport.scot/
Northern Ireland: https://www.victimsupportni.com/
Guidance & further support: employer and employee
Is a free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating health & care professionals.
See details at your Trust
Provides confidential advice and support, available 24/7.
Helpline: 0800 023 9324
Provides advice and guidance on workplace issues, including sexual harassment for both employers and employees
- Helpline: 0300 123 1100
- Website: https://www.acas.org.uk/sexual-harassment
Raise awareness about sexism and sexual assault in healthcare through support resources and training
Aims to change behaviours of medics through providing evidence in digestible formats such as podcasts, videos, websites and academic papers.
In 2023 NHSE launched the first sexual safety charter in collaboration with key partners across the healthcare system.
Signatories to this charter commit to taking and enforcing a zero-tolerance approach to any unwanted, inappropriate and/or harmful sexual behaviours within the workplace, and to ten core principles and actions to help achieve this.
NHS England » Sexual safety in healthcare – organisational charter
This guidance is for: employers; employees and their representatives
It will:
- help employers understand their legal duties and steps to prevent and address harassment.
- help workers to understand their rights and employer responsibilities.
- help guide advisers, tribunals, and courts on best practices.
- provides examples of practical steps to take to eliminating workplace harassment.
workplace sexual harassment guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
The GMC works with doctors, patients, and other stakeholders to support good, safe patient care across the UK – Good Medical Practice 2024.
Identifying and tackling sexual misconduct – includes advice on identifying behaviours, cultures and norms that may lead to sexual misconduct. Together with support for those involved.
Website: https://www.gmc-uk.org
The BMA provides support and representation for doctors in the UK.
This page aims to provide you with information on sexual misconduct and the resources to support you if you have been involved in an incident of sexual misconduct, or if someone is seeking your support.
Offer 24/7 counselling and peer support regardless of membership status
They can also offer advice related to employment on:
- 0300 123 1233 and email [email protected].
- BMA wellbeing directory https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing#wellbeing-support-services.
- Website: https://www.bma.org.uk
Guidance around legal duty to prevent sexual harassment:
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance about the new duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.
Website: https://www.nhsemployers.org/news/new-guidance-around-legal-duty-prevent-sexual-harassment
Details of NHS England's new framework and details to help you recognise, report and prevent sexual misconduct in the workplace.
Website: https://www.nhsemployers.org/news/new-national-people-sexual-misconduct-policy-framework
Your trade union may be able to offer support on work
In 2024 The Hospital Doctors’ Union prepared a report - Action not words – tackling sexual harassment in medicine:
HCSA-Sexual-Harassment-in-Medicine-October-2024.pdf
Charity dedicated to providing frontline legal advice to women experiencing all forms of violence against women and girls in England and Wales. They run a helpline and have a guidance handbook.
- Website: https://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/
Offers information about legal rights in the workplace if experiencing sexual harassment.
- Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
The 5Ds of Bystander Action
How we can all make a difference and intervene safely. These are ways to support someone being harassed and make the workplace a safer place. Never put yourself in danger. Only intervene if safe to do so.
Direct
Call out the behaviour, ask them to stop, ask is the person who it is directed to are they ok
Distract
Interrupt, start a conversation, have others help you intervene. Come up a reason for the person to leave the situation – you need to speak to them or they need to take a call as a way for them to leave to safely.
Delegate
If you feel unable to speak up, for whatever reason, tell someone with authority/senior or call for help.
Delay
If the situation is too dangerous, walk away (seek help). Wait for the situation to pass, then ask if the person is ok, or report it later when safe to do so – it’s never too late to act.
Document
Record events as soon as possible; keep record loggings of any incidents, comments, include dates, times, names of those involved and potential witnesses.
How we can all make a difference and intervene safely. These are ways to support someone being harassed and make the workplace a safer place. Never put yourself in danger. Only intervene if safe to do so.
Direct
Call out the behaviour, ask them to stop, ask is the person who it is directed to are they ok
Distract
Interrupt, start a conversation, have others help you intervene. Come up a reason for the person to leave the situation – you need to speak to them or they need to take a call as a way for them to leave to safely.
Delegate
If you feel unable to speak up, for whatever reason, tell someone with authority/senior or call for help.
Delay
If the situation is too dangerous, walk away (seek help). Wait for the situation to pass, then ask if the person is ok, or report it later when safe to do so – it’s never too late to act.
Document
Record events as soon as possible; keep record loggings of any incidents, comments, include dates, times, names of those involved and potential witnesses.
Further RCR resources: webinars
Sexual Safety in the workplace webinar (2025)
Examining the definition, legal information and context for health professionals, the impact of sexual safety concerns in the workplace, the principles of allyship in promoting sexual safety, and practical bystander intervention
Unconscious bias and allyship in practice (2024)
Watch the 2024 webinar recording examining what is meant by “allyship”, why/how to be one, what unconscious bias is, and how it impacts day-to-day behaviours.
Support & Wellbeing
Learn more about the college’s work to support our doctors’ wellbeing