FCA Extends Bullying, Harassment Rules to 37,000 Financial Firms from 2026

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is extending its misconduct rules on serious bullying, harassment, and violence from banks to approximately 37,000 other regulated financial firms starting September 1, 2026. This expansion aims to promote healthier workplace cultures, increase consistency across the financial services sector, and deepen public trust by making clear that such behaviors qualify as misconduct. Firms will be required to include substantiated cases of poor personal behavior in regulatory references, preventing individuals from escaping consequences by moving between firms. The FCA's consultation revealed widespread industry support for the changes, with about 80% backing the move, including strong endorsements from trade bodies. FCA Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Pritchard highlighted that cultural failings, marked by unchecked bullying or harassment, often correlate with broader problems in firms’ decision making and risk management. The updated rules also guide firms on assessing non-financial misconduct, including relevant behavior on social media and in private life, while not expecting firms to monitor employees’ private lives actively.