Harassment

Harassment is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual's dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. Harassment may occur physically, verbally or non-verbally and it can be intentional or unintentional. It also includes treating someone less favourably because they have submitted or refused to submit to such behaviour in the past.

Protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 include: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We believe harassment is unacceptable even if it does not fall within any of these categories. Harassment may include, for example:

• unwanted physical conduct or ‘horseplay’, including touching, pinching, pushing, grabbing, brushing past someone, invading their personal space and more serious forms of physical or sexual assault
• offensive or intimidating comments or gestures, or insensitive jokes or pranks
• mocking, mimicking or belittling a person’s disability
• racist, sexist, homophobic or ageist jokes, or derogatory or stereotypical remarks about a particular ethnic or religious group or gender
• outing or threatening to out someone as gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans
• ignoring or shunning someone, for example, by deliberately excluding them from a conversation or a social activity.

A person may be harassed even if they were not the intended "target". For example, a person may be harassed by racist jokes about a different ethnic group if they create an offensive environment.

What should I do if I have experienced harassment?

Harassment is not tolerated at IDS. It goes against our Respect at IDS Policy and is unlawful under the Equality Act (2010).

Think 

• Are you in immediate danger? If you are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can contact the emergency services on 999 (or 112 from a mobile phone).
• Find a safe space.  If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere you feel safe.

Report

• Report + Support. Staff, visitors, partners and third party contractors can report an incident using IDS's Report + Support platform. You can choose to do this anonymously or give your contact details for a direct response and support. If you're a staff member at IDS you can choose to talk to an advisor they will be able to talk through the options and support available to you, in confidence.
• Resolution and Grievance Procedure. If you are a staff member and choose to make a formal complaint to the IDS you can also do this directly by contacting one of IDS's HR Advisors - at that stage, you will receive support and guidance about IDS's Resolution and Grievance procedures and what to expect.
• IDS's Complaints Procedure. If you are a student, partner, or third party contractor you can also do this directly using IDS's Complaints Procedure.

Get Support

• Find out what support is available if you think you have been bullied or harassed.
• Talk. Talk to your manager or cluster leader, a trusted colleague or a friend.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Find out more on the support available for mental health and wellbeing
• Take care of yourself. It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, IDS's Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offers confidential help. You can also speak to one of IDS's trained Mental Health First Aiders confidentially.