Culture news and discussion on TalkFuse.
New Anti-Harassment Laws Lead To Questions From UK Film & TV Industry
New UK legislation makes film and television employers liable for harassment of staff, cast and crew by third parties, requiring them to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent it. The change extends employers’ duty of care beyond the set, and production companies may face claims even when the alleged harasser is not connected to a project.
Studios and production groups have been updating policies and risk assessments, but questions remain about settings such as wrap parties, hotels, transport and street filming. Pact says members are unsure where liability ends, while ScreenSkills has updated its training module. The law allows claims up to six months after an incident; an Acas survey found two-fifths of employers across all industries did not know the changes were coming, and detailed guidance is still pending.
In short
- Employers can be liable for third-party harassment.
- Productions must take reasonable steps to prevent it.
- The industry is seeking clarity on how far the duty extends.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Extending employers’ duties to harassment by third parties recognises that staff, cast and crew can face risks at work-related events and locations beyond the set. Requiring all reasonable preventive steps may encourage production companies to assess those risks, train teams and offer clearer routes to report incidents.
The case against
The duty may be difficult to apply consistently when productions have limited control over venues, transport or members of the public, leaving employers unsure where their responsibility ends. Until detailed guidance clarifies what counts as reasonable steps, uncertainty about potential claims could add costs and administrative burdens, particularly for smaller productions.
Explained simply
Film and television productions often bring together employees, cast and crew who work across changing locations and alongside people outside the production. Employers already have responsibilities to protect workers from harassment, and the new law extends those responsibilities to harassment by third parties, such as members of the public or people working for other organisations.
The law applies to production companies and other employers, even if the person accused of harassment has no direct connection to the project. It requires employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent harassment, and claims can be brought up to six months after an incident.
Industry groups including Pact, which represents independent production companies, have raised questions about how the duty applies at places such as hotels, on transport or at wrap parties. ScreenSkills, which supports training in the industry, has updated its training module; detailed official guidance is still pending.
Art Culture Entertainment Film TV UK World