Introduction
We are committed to having a charity which is free from harassment and bullying, and to ensuring that all employees, contractors, volunteers and others who come into contact with us in the course of our activities are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, transgender status, marital or family status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, creed, culture, religion or belief, age or disability. Striving to ensure that the charity environment is free of harassment and bullying and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect is central to ensuring equal opportunities in employment/ volunteering.
This policy and procedure is intended to support this commitment in practice and to provide guidance to employees, contractors or volunteers (officials) on how to deal with concerns of bullying or harassment.
Policy
We will not tolerate bullying or harassment in our charity or at -related events, whether the conduct is a one-off act or repeated course of conduct, and whether done purposefully or not. Neither will we tolerate retaliation against, or victimisation of, any person involved in bringing a complaint of harassment or bullying. Retaliation or victimisation will also constitute a disciplinary offence, which may in appropriate circumstances lead to dismissal. You should also be aware that if a court or tribunal finds that you have bullied or harassed someone, in some circumstances the treatment may amount to a crime punishable by a fine or imprisonment.
We will take appropriate action if any of our officials are bullied or harassed by our stakeholders or suppliers.
Allegations of bullying and harassment will be treated seriously. Investigations will be carried out promptly, sensitively and, as far as possible, confidentially. If, after an investigation, we decide that an official has harassed or bullied another official, then they may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
Officials and others who make allegations of bullying or harassment in good faith will not be treated less favourably as a result. False accusations of harassment or bullying can have a serious effect on innocent individuals. Officials and others have a responsibility not to make false allegations. False allegations made in bad faith will be dealt with under our disciplinary procedure.
What type of treatment amounts to bullying or harassment?
Bullying or harassment is something that has happened that is unwelcome, unwarranted and causes a detrimental effect. If officials complain they are being bullied or harassed, then they have a grievance which must be dealt with regardless of whether or not their complaint accords with a standard definition. For further information, please refer to ACAS guidance.
It is important to recognise that conduct which one person may find acceptable, another may find totally unacceptable. All officials must, therefore, treat their colleagues with respect and appropriate sensitivity.
Bullying does not include appropriate criticism of an official’s behaviour or proper performance management.
Reporting concerns
If you witness an incident you believe to harassment or bullying
Report the incident in confidence to your manager. Such reports will be taken seriously and will be treated in strict confidence as far as it is possible to do so.
If you feel you are being bullied or harassed by a stakeholder or supplier
If you are being bullied or harassed by someone with whom you come into contact at the charity, raise this with your manager in the first instance or with the chief executive or else chair of trustees. We will then decide how best to deal with the situation, in consultation with you.
If you feel you are being bullied or harassed by an official
There are two possible avenues for you, informal or formal.
Informal Resolution
You may be able to resolve the situation yourself by explaining clearly to the perpetrator(s) that their behaviour is unacceptable, contrary to our policy and must stop. Alternatively, you may wish to ask your manager or a colleague to put this on your behalf or to be with you when confronting the perpetrator(s).
If the above approach does not work or if you do not want to try to resolve the situation in this way, or if you are being bullied by your own manager, you should raise the issue with the chief executive or else chair of trustees. They will discuss with you the option of trying to resolve the situation informally by:
- telling the alleged perpetrator(s), without prejudging the matter, that there has been a complaint that their behaviour is having an adverse effect on a fellow official
- that such behaviour is contrary to our policy
- that the continuation of such behaviour could amount to a serious disciplinary offence.
It may be possible for this conversation to not reveal your name if this is what you want. They will also stress that the conversation is confidential.
In certain circumstances, we may be able to involve a neutral third party (a mediator) to facilitate a resolution of the problem. This will be discussed with you if it is appropriate.
If your complaint is resolved informally, the alleged perpetrator(s) will not usually be subject to disciplinary sanctions. However, in exceptional circumstances (such as a serious allegation of sexual or racial harassment or in cases where a problem has happened before) we may decide to investigate further and take more formal action notwithstanding that you raised the matter informally. We will consult with you before taking this step.
Raising a formal complaint
If informal resolution is unsuccessful or inappropriate, you can make a formal complaint or grievance about the harassment or bullying to your manager or the chief executive or chair of trustees. A formal complaint may ultimately lead to disciplinary action against the perpetrator(s).
We will first investigate the issue. You will need to co-operate with the investigation and provide the following details (if not already provided).
- The name of the alleged perpetrator(s)
- The nature of the harassment or bullying
- The dates and times the harassment or bullying occurred
- The names of any witnesses
- Any action taken by you to resolve the matter informally
The alleged perpetrator(s) would need to be told your name and the details of your complaint in order for the issue to be investigated properly. However, we will carry out the investigation as confidentially and sensitively as possible. Where you and the alleged perpetrator(s) operate in proximity to each other, we will consider whether it is appropriate to separate you while the matter is being investigated.
After the investigation, we will meet with you to consider the complaint and the findings of the investigation. At the meeting, you may be accompanied by a fellow official or a trade union official.
After the meeting (and normally within five working days) we will write to you to inform you of our decision and to notify you of your right to appeal to a more senior manager if you are dissatisfied with the outcome.
Appeal
You should put your appeal in writing explaining the reasons why you are dissatisfied with our decision. You should submit your appeal within five working days of receiving written confirmation of our decision. If you submit an appeal, you will be invited to attend a meeting to consider it. Once again you may be accompanied by a fellow official or a representative. We will write to you afterwards to confirm our final decision.
Use of the disciplinary procedure
Harassment and bullying constitute serious misconduct. If, at any stage from the point at which a complaint/grievance is raised, we believe there is a case to answer and a disciplinary offence might have been committed, we will instigate our disciplinary procedure. Any official found to have harassed or bullied a colleague will be liable to disciplinary action up to and including summary dismissal.
Date adopted: 8 January 2019
Policy based on an example from NCVO published 2016
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