Workplace sexual harassment is more than an HR issue—it’s a health and safety crisis. The emotional and psychological toll of harassment affects millions of workers worldwide, leaving victims unsupported and workplaces unsafe. Yet, employers often escape accountability under current laws, allowing toxic cultures to continue.
The End Not Defend campaign is leading the fight to change this. By advocating for groundbreaking reforms, including placing sexual harassment under the remit of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and introducing anonymous reporting systems, End Not Defend is calling for action that prioritises victims and transforms workplaces. Together, we can end the “tick-box culture” and create safer, more equitable workplaces for all.
Why Sexual Harassment Is a Workplace Health and Safety Issue
Sexual harassment doesn’t just harm individuals—it harms entire workplaces. Victims of harassment often face anxiety, depression, and stress, which directly affect their mental and physical well-being. The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) already requires employers to protect workers from harm. Yet, sexual harassment is often excluded from this framework, treated as a separate HR issue instead of a systemic failure.
Fear of retaliation or stigma stops many from reporting incidents, allowing harmful behaviours to continue unchecked. By treating sexual harassment as a health and safety issue, we can create a proactive system that holds employers accountable for protecting their workers—just as they would in cases of physical injury or workplace hazards.
The End Not Defend Solution
The End Not Defend campaign is proposing bold reforms to transform the way sexual harassment is handled in workplaces. At the heart of their mission is the belief that employers must be held accountable for protecting workers and that the system must prioritise the needs of victims over compliance checkboxes.
Here’s how End Not Defend is leading the way toward meaningful change:
1. Bring Sexual Harassment Under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE):
By treating sexual harassment as a health and safety issue, the campaign seeks to enforce greater accountability for employers. Just as workplace injuries and hazards are monitored under HSE regulations, harassment would be subject to similar oversight, ensuring employers take proactive steps to protect employees.
2. Implement Anonymous Reporting Systems:
A reporting framework similar to RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) would allow victims to report harassment confidentially. This approach would remove the fear of retaliation and create a safer pathway for individuals to come forward.
3. Prioritise Victims Over Perpetrators:
Moving beyond a “tick-box culture,” End Not Defend emphasises creating a workplace culture where victims are protected, supported, and empowered. This includes a shift from superficial compliance to meaningful, systemic change.
By championing these reforms, the campaign is not just addressing a legal gap but also working toward a cultural shift in which safety, respect, and dignity are the cornerstones of every workplace.
The Benefits of Meaningful Reform
Implementing the reforms proposed by End Not Defend would not only address the systemic failures in handling workplace sexual harassment but would also create far-reaching benefits for victims, employees, and organisations alike.
1. Empowering Victims Through Safety and Support:
Anonymous reporting systems and stronger employer accountability would ensure victims have a safe and supportive environment to report harassment. By removing barriers like stigma and fear of retaliation, more individuals could speak out, leading to quicker resolutions and greater justice.
2. Safer, Healthier Workplaces:
When harassment is treated as a health and safety issue, employers are incentivised to implement preventative measures. This proactive approach would reduce the prevalence of harassment and foster work cultures prioritising respect and safety.
3. Trust and Retention Among Employees:
Workplaces that prioritise their employees’ well-being experience improved trust, morale, and retention. Organisations that demonstrate a commitment to victims’ safety and dignity can build stronger, more cohesive teams.
4. A Step Toward Cultural Change:
These reforms would send a powerful message: that sexual harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Beyond individual workplaces, this approach can potentially drive a cultural shift across industries and into communities, empowering workers everywhere to demand safer and more equitable environments.
By addressing sexual harassment at its root and making employers accountable, End Not Defend is paving the way for long-lasting change that protects individuals and strengthens workplaces.
How You Can Support the Campaign
The fight for safer, harassment-free workplaces cannot happen without collective action. The End Not Defend campaign relies on the support of people like you to turn this vision into a reality. Here’s how you can help:
1. Donate to the Campaign:
Your contributions help fund the advocacy and awareness efforts needed to push for these vital legal changes. Donations empower End Not Defend to continue fighting for meaningful reform and supporting victims.
2. Sign Petitions and Amplify the Message:
Petitions show policymakers that the public demands action. By signing and sharing these petitions, you can help amplify the campaign’s voice and bring greater attention to its goals.
3. Spread the Word:
Awareness is key to building momentum. Share the End Not Defend campaign on social media, with friends, and within your community. Every conversation counts in creating a movement for change.
4. Engage With Policymakers:
Write to your local representatives, urging them to support reforms that bring sexual harassment under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remit. Let them know you stand with End, Not Defend.
This is your chance to join a movement that prioritises victims, holds employers accountable, and transforms workplaces. Together, we can end the “tick-box culture” and create a future where safety and dignity are non-negotiable in every workplace.
Conclusion
Workplace sexual harassment is a pervasive issue that harms individuals and erodes trust in organisations. But with the bold and innovative reforms proposed by the End Not Defend campaign, there is real hope for change. By making sexual harassment a health and safety issue, holding employers accountable, and prioritising victims through anonymous reporting systems, we can build safer, fairer workplaces for everyone.
The time to act is now. Every voice matters; your support is critical to realising this vision. Donate today to help fund this vital campaign, sign petitions to demand action from policymakers, and share this message to amplify the movement. Together, we can end the “tick-box culture” and create workplaces that protect and empower their most valuable resource: their people.
Let’s stand united for dignity, safety, and change.