Seven years after its 2019 launch, the Sexual Harassment at Work Advice Line remains the sole free specialist legal resource for women in England and Wales. Funded initially by the TIME’S UP UK Justice and Equality Fund, which included donations from Emma Watson, the service was born out of the global #MeToo wave to bridge a gap in accessible legal support.
Watson’s involvement was not merely ceremonial. Speaking at the 2019 launch, she highlighted the absurdity of such a service being the only one of its kind, citing Trades Union Congress research that found one in two women had experienced workplace sexual harassment. "It’s completely staggering," she said, emphasizing that understanding rights is vital for creating safe workplaces.
The landscape has shifted since then. The Worker Protection Act 2024, which Rights of Women campaigned for, now legally requires employers to take reasonable steps to prevent harassment. Effective October 26, 2024, this duty of care adds teeth to complaints; if an employer fails to meet this standard, victims may receive an extra 25% in compensation.
Deeby Syed, then Senior Legal Officer at Rights of Women, noted that harassment was often treated as something women were expected to tolerate. The helpline addresses this by providing specialist guidance from volunteer employment lawyers, helping callers navigate the fear of career consequences that often silences reporting.
The line operates Monday to Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm, and Thursday to Friday from 10am to 12pm UK time, reachable at 020 7490 0152. As the legal framework tightens, the charity continues to push women to report cases to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which holds regulatory powers to pursue employers.