At SHAX we believe that every employee should feel respected and safe at work. That’s why we’re committed to maintaining a working environment free from harassment.
New legislation is being introduced on 26 October 2024 which will further protect all of us from sexual harassment, both at work and in work-related settings. This includes time spent at work, whilst on business trips, at work related social events with colleagues and even interactions on social media.
What does this mean for you?
Sexual harassment at work is not only unacceptable — it’s against the law. If anyone engages in behaviour that is inappropriate, it could lead to serious consequences. These consequences could be as severe as dismissal for the person responsible, and legal action could follow.
Examples of sexual harassment
Sexual harassment can take many forms, including:
- Sexual comments or jokes
- Displaying sexually graphic pictures, posters or photos
- Suggestive looks, staring or leering
- Propositions and sexual advances
- Making promises in return for sexual favours
- Sexual gestures
- Intrusive questions about a person’s private or sex life, or a person discussing their own sex life
- Sexual posts or contact on social media
- Spreading sexual rumours about a person
- Sending sexually explicit emails or text messages
- Unwelcome touching, hugging, massaging or kissing
Harassment is any unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. A single incident can amount to harassment. Even if an employee did not intend to harass someone, the behaviour may still be considered harassment if the victim experienced it as such.
Your responsibilities
As employees, we are all responsible for treating each other with dignity and respect. This includes:
- Behaving professionally during work and at work-related events.
- Not engaging in any form of harassment, either in person or on social media.
- Reporting any incidents of harassment you witness or experience.
What should you do if you experience or witness harassment?
If you have experienced harassment and feel able, consider telling the person involved that their behaviour is unacceptable. However, if this isn’t possible or doesn’t resolve the issue, we encourage you to report it. You can do this by speaking to your line manager, or if you’re uncomfortable with that, contacting:
- Colin Callander-Bone: colin.callander-bone@shax.org.uk or 07896 840766
- Liz Evora, Trustee: Liz.evora@btinternect.com
Protection against third-party harassment
We understand that you may come into contact with customers, suppliers, or the public while on the job. If you experience harassment from any third party you are encouraged to report it so we can take action to keep you safe.
Our commitment to you
We will take all reports of harassment seriously and act quickly to investigate. If necessary, steps will be taken to address the situation, such as disciplinary action, banning third parties from our premises, or involving law enforcement if needed.
Further detail can be found in our Anti-harassment and bullying policy in the SHAX Employee Handbook (see the handbook section on this page).
