Third-Party harassment, sexual harassment and respectful behaviour.
THERE IS A ZERO-TOLERANCE APPROACH TO HARASSMENT.
Winterhalter and Classeq Ltd is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace. We expect all visitors and other third parties to behave professionally and to treat employees, contractors and other people at our premises with dignity and respect.
Why this code matters
Harassment can come from employees or from people outside the organisation. This Code sets out the behaviours expected and explains how concerns about harassment, including sexual harassment, can be raised.
- Who this code appplies to
This Code applies to anyone interacting with our employees during the course of our business activities, whether on our premises, at customer locations, or through any other work-related interaction. This may include customers, clients, contractors, suppliers, consultants, delivery drivers, agency workers, volunteers, members of the public and other visitors.
We expect all individuals to treat our employees with dignity and respect, regardless of where the interaction takes place.
- Our expectations
When on our premises, at customer locations, or otherwise interacting with our employees in connection with our business activities, individuals are expected to
- Treat everyone with courtesy, dignity and respect
- Use appropriate and professional language and behaviour
- Respect personal boundaries and personal space
- Follow our reasonable workplace instructions, policies and safety requirements
- Avoid behaviour that is offensive, intimidating, degrading, humiliating or unwelcome
- Raise any concerns appropriately rather than responding through confrontation, threats or retaliation
- Harassment is not acceptable
We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Harassment may include unwanted conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
Depending on the circumstances, harassment may relate to protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, including age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We also do not tolerate inappropriate or unwanted behaviour towards individuals because they are pregnant, on maternity leave, married or in a civil partnership.
- Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. It can be physical, verbal or non-verbal. Our standards apply equally to sexual comments, jokes, gestures, advances, unwanted touching and other sexual behaviour that is unwelcome or inappropriate.
- Unwanted sexual comments, jokes or remarks.
- Unwanted touching or other physical contact.
- Unwanted sexual advances or attention.
- Sexually suggestive gestures or behaviour.
- Displaying, sending or sharing sexually explicit or inappropriate material.
- Any other unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that is inappropriate in the workplace.
- Third-party harassment
Third-party harassment is unwanted conduct carried out by someone who is not employed by us. It can occur at our premises, customer sites, during work-related visits or events, through remote communications, or through other work-connected interactions.
We expect customers and other third parties to understand that harassment of our people is not acceptable. We will take appropriate steps to respond to concerns and to help prevent further incidents.
- Speaking up and reporting concerns
Anyone who experiences or witnesses behaviour that may breach this Code is encouraged to inform a member of management as soon as reasonably practicable. Concerns should be raised even where the person is unsure whether the behaviour amounts to harassment.
How to report
If you experience or witness inappropriate behaviour involving a Winterhalter or Classeq employee, you should report it to our HR Manager.
If one of our employees reports inappropriate behaviour by a third party, we shall take the concern seriously and may investigate the matter.
HR Manager: Dan Webster-Tangi [email protected]
- How concerns may be dealt with
We will consider reported concerns promptly and will decide what action is appropriate in the circumstances. Where appropriate, action may include speaking to the customer/visitor, reinforcing expected standards of behaviour, restricting or supervising future contact, removing a visitor from our premises, or ending or suspending a relevant commercial or service relationship.
Where criminal conduct may have occurred, the matter may also be reported to the police or another relevant authority.
- Confidentiality and protection
Concerns will be handled as confidentially as possible and information will only be shared where it is necessary to consider or resolve the matter. Winterhalter/Classeq does not tolerate retaliation against a person who raises a genuine concern or supports another person in raising one.
- Breach of this Code
We may take action
Failure to comply with this Code may result in appropriate action being taken in line with Section 7 ("How concerns may be dealt with"). The action taken will depend on the nature and seriousness of the behaviour.
If you have questions on this document, please contact the HR Manager whose details are outlined above.