Page 29 - OKelly Sutton Employee Handbook March19
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3.3.5 Duty of those responsible for employees
All supervisory personnel are responsible for eliminating any harassment or bullying of which they are
aware. Failure to take appropriate steps will be considered failure to fulfil all the responsibilities of the
position and may be dealt with under the Company's disciplinary procedure.
3.3.6 Sanctions and Miscellaneous matters
All employees have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and complaints by employees will
be treated with fairness and sensitivity and in as confidential a manner as possible. Sexual harassment,
harassment and bullying by the Company, its employees, clients, customers or business contacts will
not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action (in the case of employees) and other sanctions,
for example, the suspension of contracts or services or exclusions from premises (in the case of non-
employees).
The protection afforded by the policy extends to sexual harassment, harassment and bullying by co-
workers, clients, customers or other business contacts either in the workplace or beyond the
workplace including conferences and training and may extend to work related social events. It includes
the different treatment of an employee because he/she has rejected or accepted the sexual
harassment, harassment or bullying, and further includes persons working with the Company who are
working through employment agencies or on vocational training.
It is a matter for the recipient of the behaviour to decide whether that behaviour is unwelcome,
irrespective of the attitude of others to the matter.
Employees who make a complaint or who give evidence at proceedings will not be victimised by the
Company in any way. The Company expects its senior employees to have a particular responsibility to
ensure that sexual harassment, harassment and bullying do not occur and that complaints are
addressed speedily. Company Directors, Managers and supervisors therefore will provide good
example by treating all in the workplace with courtesy and respect, promote awareness of company
policy and complaint procedures, be vigilant for signs of harassment and take action before a problem
escalates, respond sensitively to an employee who makes a complaint of harassment, explain the
procedures to be followed if a complaint of sexual harassment or harassment is made, ensure that an
employee making a complaint is not victimised for doing so, and monitor and follow up the situation
after the complaint is made so that the sexual harassment or harassment does not recur.
Employees of the Company are expected to contribute to the achieving of a sexual harassment free
and harassment free environment through co-operation with strategies to eliminate sexual
harassment and harassment and that sexual harassment and harassment by employees constitutes
misconduct and may lead to disciplinary action.
Sexual harassment and harassment by non-employees such as clients, customers and business
contacts may lead to termination of business contracts, suspension of services or the exclusion from
premises or the imposition of other appropriate sanctions.
A company sexual harassment policy is to be communicated to all those potentially affected by it. For
employees this is by means of company handbook. For other parties this may be by way of newsletter,
website, e-mail or notice board. All employees are required to sign their acceptance of this handbook
and by so doing they signify that they have read this policy.
The Company will keep a record of all complaints of sexual harassment and harassment and a note of
the outcome or resolution. The Company will monitor this information at regular intervals to evaluate
the success of the policy.
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