Harassment is unwanted conduct affecting people’s dignity. It may be comments or actions that are demeaning and unacceptable to the recipient or which create a hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive working environment. Harassment can occur whether or not it is intended to be offensive, as it is the effect on the individual which is important, not whether or not the behaviour is intended to harass them.
Harassment may be verbal, non-verbal, physical, isolated or repeated and it can occur through behaviour in relation to age, disability (past or present), gender reassignment, ‘race’, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, trade union membership (or non-membership), part time or fixed term status, power or hierarchy and/or willingness to challenge harassment.
While not an exhaustive list, examples of harassment include:
- Physical contact and obscene or offensive gestures
- ‘Jokes’, ‘banter’, gossip, mimicry, slander, offensive language, shouting and/or behaving in an intimidating manner
- Offensive, insensitive or sectarian songs or messages (including email)
- Displaying offensive posters or pictures, graffiti, emblems, flags, email and screen savers etc
- Isolation or non-co-operation and exclusion
- Undue pressure to participate in political/religious groups
- Intrusion by pestering, spying and stalking
- Continued requests for social activities after it has been made clear that such suggestions are not welcome
- Verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature
- Less favourable treatment for rejecting or submitting to unwanted conduct
Harassment is unlawful in many cases and individuals may be held personally liable for their actions. In some cases, their behaviour may also amount to a criminal offence.
You can report harassment that you are experiencing or something that you have witnessed happening to someone-else via Report and Support. All reports go to the NT's People & Culture team for confidential follow up.
You can report a one-off incident or a series of events.
If you report with your contact details, we will be able to follow up with you to find out more, discuss next steps and the direct action we will be able to take.
If you report anonymously this will limit the direct action we can take but it will allow us to potentially investigate if there are multiple reports relating to the same person or a specific team or department at the NT.
Alternatively you can opt to report verbally in person. To do this, send an email people@nationaltheatre.org.uk asking to meet with a member of the People & Culture team to make a report in person. They will get back to you to arrange a time.
Get Support
Alongside the practical support that the People & Culture team will be able to offer you, the NT's Welfare and Wellbeing team are also available to provide you with space and support to process what has happened to you or what you have witnessed. You can find out more about what is available here.