Napo has joined the ‘End Not Defend campaign’. This campaign, led by the Workers’ Policy Project, is advocating for landmark reforms to address workplace sexual harassment. By treating sexual harassment as a health and safety issue, the campaign aims to hold employers accountable, support victims, and prevent harassment through systemic changes.
The campaign’s four core proposals are:
- To incorporate sexual harassment under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure rigorous oversight and employer accountability.
- To establish anonymous reporting systems modelled on RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013), empowering victims to report without fear of retaliation.
- To prioritise victims’ safety and support over compliance-focused, tick-box practices.
- To extend Employment Tribunal time limits from the current 3 months less a day.
These reforms align with Napo’s values and aims to protect our members and foster safer, fairer workplaces.
Why does this matter to us?
Sexual harassment is a workplace hazard
Harassment causes psychological, emotional, and physical harm to workers, making it a health and safety crisis. Employers already have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to protect employees from harm. Including harassment within this framework creates stronger protections for members.
Addressing power imbalances and precarious work
Research has shown that precarious workers, those in insecure jobs, zero-hours contracts, or agency work are disproportionately targeted by workplace sexual harassment.
Napo together with other trade unions must advocate for stronger protections for all workers, particularly those in precarious employment, by demanding employer accountability and safer reporting mechanisms.
Collective bargaining opportunities
The campaign can offer us the opportunity to strengthen our role in negotiating / improving workplace policies that combat harassment, foster dignity, and prioritise victims’ needs.
Driving cultural change
We can play a vital role together with other unions supporting this campaign and try and help shift workplace culture, building trust among members and encouraging them to come forward without fear.
The campaign is underpinned by research produced by academics at Sheffield Hallam University and is already supported by a range of organisations and trade unions, including the Alex Ferry Foundation, the Lipman-Miliband Trust, Hazards, Unite Hospitality, Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, Musicians’ Union, Equity, Morrish Solicitors and GMLaw. A launch event was held in Westminster in January.
We will keep you informed of future events and what you can do as we believe this is a worthy campaign for Napo to support and get actively involved in: working together to end workplace harassment and create a future where safety and dignity are the norm, not the exception.
You can find more information here at: https://workerspolicyproject.org/endnotdefend/
