Call for action as workplace harassment persists

The team behind the SaferSpace reporting platform is urging UK employers to step up their response to workplace harassment after a new Unite the Union survey revealed that 60% of women have experienced sexual harassment during their working lives — with the vast majority choosing not to report it.

The findings have renewed scrutiny across all sectors, including construction, where complex site hierarchies and subcontracting arrangements can make it especially difficult for victims to come forward.

The call to action follows recent confirmation that the government’s forthcoming Employment Rights Bill will ban the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of harassment or abuse. The bill builds on the Worker Protection Act, which came into force in 2024 and introduced a legal duty for employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment.

SaferSpace co-founder Ruth Sparkes said the survey findings came as no surprise. “The reality for a huge number of workers, especially women and young people, is that they experience harassment and don’t report it. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s uncertainty. Often it’s because they’ve seen what happens when others try to speak up.”

Sparkes, a former Royal Navy engineer, cited the death of soldier Jaysley Beck in 2021 after sustained harassment as “a tragic example of what happens when systems fail the people they are supposed to protect.”

The SaferSpace app, which Concrete Connect first reported on in May 2025, enables confidential reporting of harassment, discrimination and misconduct. Built-in AI tools help users assess whether their experience may constitute a legal breach, while a live dashboard supports governance and compliance.

Originally piloted in sectors such as education and logistics, the app has clear relevance to construction, where site workers — including many young apprentices — may be unsure of how or where to report concerns. The platform allows for anonymous submissions and is already aligned with UK employment law, including the Equality Act.

“Policies are not protection if they exist only on paper,” said Sparkes. “Cultural change will only happen when employers back legislation with real action.”

High-profile UK cases cited in the press release include over 1,000 reported harassment incidents at McDonald’s UK, more than 250 misconduct claims at Harrods, and disciplinary dismissals within the armed forces. SaferSpace is now being piloted across additional sectors and remains available to any UK employer seeking to strengthen workplace safeguarding.