It’s a sad fact of life that sexual harassment still remains a pervasive issue in society and in most industries. Since its inception in 2018, the aim of timeTo - of which I am proud Chair of the steering committee - has been to eradicate sexual harassment within the advertising and marketing industry. Our focus has always been to produce practical, actionable assets that will drive real change - so for example, we created a code of conduct for businesses to implement, case studies, training and so on. The original timeTo training set out to educate people on what constitutes sexual harassment and to help create an open dialogue around the subject. And to date, it has been hugely successful, with excellent feedback and driving real results. However, many participants have openly shared situations in which they had witnessed sexual harassment (as well as other inappropriate behaviour) in the workplace and were unsure what to do.

So, we listened and this year I’m so pleased we have developed a new comprehensive Active Bystander Training product, aimed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to intervene safely and effectively. While the responsibility for harassment always lies with the harasser - harassers must be held accountable for their actions - bystanders have the power to draw attention to inappropriate behaviour in various ways. For the person being harassed, this support can be crucial as they might be unable to act due to the fight-flight, freeze, friend or fawn response. By providing practical skills and real-life examples, the training genuinely demystifies the intervention process, making it feel achievable for everyone. While the responsibility for harassment always lies with the harasser, bystanders have the power to draw attention to inappropriate behaviour in various ways.

Witnessing sexual harassment can evoke feelings of discomfort, confusion, fear and uncertainty. The timeTo Active Bystander training addresses this by providing clear, actionable steps that will help you to intervene effectively, in a way that feels safe and manageable. Intervention does not have to be confrontational or aggressive, which can be a common misconception, timeTo’s new training empowers us to act confidently and compassionately.

Here's what the knowledge and skills participants can expect  from the training:

• Recognising inappropriate behaviour: Participants will learn to identify various forms of inappropriate behaviour, including many that are  subtle or normalised in the workplace
• Understanding barriers to intervention: exploration of common reasons that people hesitate to intervene - for example, fear of retaliation or uncertainty about the severity of the situation.
• Practical intervention methods: The training offers safe and practical methods for stepping in, ensuring that interventions are non-aggressive and prioritise the wellbeing of the person being harassed.
• Responding with care: advice on how to respond empathetically when someone shares their experience of harassment, providing support without judgment.

TimeTo’s training empowers individuals at all levels—from senior executives to entry-level employees—to act confidently and compassionately. By fostering a culture of intervention and support, we help organisations meet the new legal requirements (which come into effect this month; more details below) and create safer, more respectful workplaces.

We all know that senior leaders are role models whose actions set the tone for their organisations. When leaders take part in the training and actively promote it to their teams,  it demonstrates a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and helps to create a safe environment where employees feel comfortable reporting incidents and driving meaningful change. From October 2024, a new duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment becomes law. The Worker Protection Act (amendment of Equality Act 2010) will change the duty on employers from redress to prevention. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is updating its 2020 technical guidance on sexual harassment in the workplace to help employers comply with the new duty and understand the law. As such, employers must ensure they are fully up to date with the new law and communicate the priority areas to focus to their teams.

The recent shocking reports of sexual harassment at Cannes highlighted the importance of bystander intervention. timeTo’s partnership with Cannes Lions this year led to the creation of a guide, Celebrating Safety at Cannes to support individuals before, during, and after the event.

There is no escaping that sexual harassment is an uncomfortable and difficult topic, but addressing it is essential and now new legal requirements dictate that all businesses must act. Our expert trainers create a safe, confidential and judgment-free space for learning and discussion, entirely focused on education, support and team growth.

For more information on timeTo’s mission, products and training, please visit https://timeto.org.uk/. If anyone has previously experienced harassment our trainers encourage everyone to take care of themselves first and foremost, take a break if needed and to contact NABS’ support team.