The PM said she was "deeply concerned" by recent reports about alleged harassment and abuse at Westminster.
She invited Labour's Jeremy Corbyn and other party leaders to a meeting to agree a new grievance procedure.
Mr Corbyn said trade unions should be involved to support staff.
The government has already promised a response "within days" following a range of recent allegations which have included claims of a lack of support for those making complaints.
Opening Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Mrs May said Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom had been meeting her counterparts in other parties to discuss a "common, transparent, independent" grievance procedure.
"We have a duty to ensure that everyone coming here to contribute to public life is treated with respect," she added.
She said this included processes for the political parties to follow, investigations under the ministerial code and rules covering everyone working at the Palace of Westminster.
Mr Corbyn said he was happy to meet the PM to discuss it, with a meeting scheduled for early next week.
The SNP's Ian Blackford said his party would also work with the government "to ensure that we have a system we can be proud of".
Whips' offices
During PMQs, Labour's Lisa Nandy said that three years ago she had raised concerns with Mrs May that party whips' offices had used sexual abuse allegations to demand loyalty from MPs.
At the time Mrs May, who was home secretary, said political parties would be included in the wide-ranging inquiry into child abuse she was announcing and that "every area where it is possible that people have been guilty of abuse" would be looked at.
Responding to Ms Nandy in PMQs, she said she would look back at the questions raised, adding: "I will say to her that I am very clear, that the whips' office - I hope this goes for all whips' offices across this House - should make clear to people that where there are any sexual abuse allegations that could be of a criminal nature that people should go to the police.
"It is not appropriate for those to be dealt with by whips' offices; those should go to the police - that continues to be the case."
Ahead of PMQs, Mrs May's deputy, Damian Green, said allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female activist were "completely false" and said he had instructed libel lawyers.
Tory activist Kate Maltby had written in the Times that he "fleetingly" touched her knee in a pub in 2015, and in 2016 sent her a "suggestive" text message.
Meanwhile Labour has launched an independent investigation into an activist's claim that she was discouraged by a party official from reporting an alleged rape at a party event in 2011.
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