Respect@Work Duties Are Becoming a Professional Risk Issue

The key shift is that organisations are expected to take active steps to prevent sexual harassment, sex-based harassment, discrimination and related victimisation, rather than only responding after a complaint. That changes the risk profile for professionals who design workplace policies, conduct investigations, deliver training, advise boards or help small businesses understand their obligations. If advice is incomplete, poorly documented or not suited to a client's workplace, the client may later allege that the professional service contributed to regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage, staff claims or remediation costs.

For small and medium businesses buying advice, the practical issue is clarity. Engagement letters should explain what work is being performed, what is outside scope, what information the client must provide and whether legal advice is required. For professionals providing that advice, it is equally important to keep records showing the basis for recommendations, the documents reviewed, the warnings given and any limitations on the work.

This also matters at insurance renewal. Professional indemnity insurance may respond to allegations of professional negligence, errors or omissions in advice, but it should not be treated as a blanket solution for every workplace dispute. Employment practices liability, management liability, statutory liability and cyber cover may all become relevant depending on the facts. Businesses should check their professional indemnity insurance requirements, contractual obligations and any minimum limits before signing new client work or tendering for compliance projects.

Policy wording deserves close attention. Some policies may restrict cover for employment-related matters, intentional conduct, fines, penalties, known circumstances, investigations or contractual promises that go beyond the ordinary duty of care. A review of policy exclusions can help identify where a professional indemnity policy may stop and where another form of cover or stronger risk control is needed.

The takeaway is not that every Respect@Work issue becomes a professional indemnity claim. Rather, prevention-focused regulation raises the standard expected of those who sell expertise. Professionals should document their advice, avoid overpromising, update templates, train staff and review insurance before a client problem becomes a claim notification.