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Dignity at Work Policy

 

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What is the purpose of the policy?

Visionary Pictures strives to offer an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate bullying and or harassment.

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We have a duty of care to protect our staff, creatives and crew. We will make it our priority to support you if you experience problems with bullying or harassment and this policy is designed to help us do that. 

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If you have a problem with bullying or harassment we encourage you to use the support available to try to resolve it as early as possible. We will investigate any complaint that you bring to our attention in a fair, independent and confidential way and, after considering all the facts, we will take prompt and appropriate action. Informal resolution is also a route available to you to deal with bullying or harassment.

 

This policy is accompanied by a Set of Principles and Guidance to tackle bullying and harassment in the screen industries developed by the BFI and BAFTA in partnership with the UK industry. This offers a broader guide on how to prevent and address bullying and harassment for everyone working in the screen sectors. It sets out examples of bullying and harassment as well as how workers including employers and freelancers can best respond. It also provides links to further resources available to anyone in the screen sectors on the issue of bullying and harassment.

 

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Who does the policy apply to?

This policy applies to everybody working for Visionary Pictures. This includes full-time and part-time staff, freelancers, sub-contractors and agency workers. It can be used by anyone experiencing bullying or harassment at work, work-related events such as social functions or business trips, as well as via telephone, email, text messages and online.

 

All those working with Visionary Pictures are expected to comply fully with the terms of this bullying and harassment policy. They are also expected to familiarise themselves with the bullying and harassment Set of Principles and to uphold these values at all times.

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Visionary Pictures regards acts of bullying and harassment as a serious disciplinary matter. Those found to be acting in an unacceptable manner towards others may find their continued employment or engagement at risk.

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Freelancers (PAYE or gross paid) who wish to make a complaint should contact their manager, the ‘designated person’ if the production has one, or the free-to-call Film and TV Support Line on 0800 054 00 00. The same principles of fairness and objectivity will be applied. We will mirror the Formal process set out in this Policy with flexibility, and in exceptional circumstance, take into account the short term nature of some freelance engagements.

 

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What is bullying and harassment?

Bullying or harassment can take place face-to-face, behind your back, by telephone, email, text, social media or any other form of communication.

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The Guidance that supplements this Policy is designed to help you better understand bullying and harassment by providing examples and case studies of what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

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The Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (Acas), a UK organisation providing free and impartial information on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law, provides definitions for bullying and harassment.

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Bullying is defined as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient.

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Harassment is defined as unwanted conduct which is related to a protected characteristic of the Equality Act 2010 including

  • Age

  • Sex

  • Disability

  • Gender reassignment

  • Marriage and civil partnership

  • Pregnancy and maternity

  • Race

  • Religion or belief

  • Sexual orientation

which has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity, or creating for that person an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

 

Bullying and harassment can be:

  • Intentional or unintentional, targeted at an individual or a group;

  • Not specifically targeted but have an overall impact that creates a negative work environment;

  • Repeated behaviour over a period of time, or one isolated incident;

  • Between workers and/or managers at the same or different levels in the organisation;

  • In the same or different departments or areas of work within or outside of the organisation;

  • Between employees, workers and external contractors and/or clients within or outside of the organisation;

  • Mobbing – when more than one person is involved;

  • Neglect or marginalisation;

  • During daily work activities, at work-organised events held on-site or off-site, inside and outside of working hours;

  • Face-to-face, over the telephone, by email, text messages and online, e.g. social media platforms.

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It is important to note that not all harassment is sexual but keep in mind that, with sexual harassment:

  • A hug, kiss on the cheek, or casual touch is not necessarily sexual harassment. The key is whether the behaviour was unwanted or offensive;

  • It does not matter if a person has sexual feelings towards the recipient, only that the behaviour is of a sexual nature and that it was unwanted and/or offensive;

  • Sexual harassment is gender neutral and orientation neutral. It can be perpetrated by any gender against any gender.

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Visionary Pictures’ approach

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Visionary Pictures believes everybody deserves to be treated with respect. We value inclusivity, appreciate difference, welcome learning from others, and consider people equal without prejudice or favour. 

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We will not tolerate any behaviour that does not answer to these values, including bullying or harassment in any form. 

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We will work to the best of our ability to ensure everybody who works with or for us is treated according to these beliefs. 

 

We will never victimise, unfairly treat or discipline anybody who makes a genuine formal or informal complaint about bullying and harassment.

 

We will respect and maintain your confidentiality and will speak to anybody involved about their responsibility to maintain confidentiality on the issue.

 

As we have a duty to protect you and your colleagues, there may be times we decide to act on your complaint independently. In these situations, we will encourage you to use our support services and will inform you of the outcome of our investigations if you wish to know.

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Visionary Pictures aims to offer the best possible support to those working with or for us that experience bullying and harassment.

 

You can use our informal or formal processes to resolve your complaint although where possible, we encourage you to try to resolve any problems informally in the first instance. 

 

As well as the Film and TV Support Line, 0800 054 00 00 there are a number of internal and external support services (found in the Guidance) available to help you get the advice you need.

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How do I make a complaint about bullying and harassment? 

Anyone with a complaint regarding bullying and harassment can choose to pursue it via either a formal or informal process.​

 

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Using Informal processes

If you have a complaint about bullying and harassment, we encourage you to try to resolve problems informally where possible and appropriate, before using the formal process. 

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It is important to remember that the other person may be unaware of their behaviour and the impact it has on you, and your informal feedback may give the person a better understanding and opportunity to change or stop their behaviour.

We advise you to try to resolve your complaint as early as possible, to reduce stress and worry for you and possibly the other person involved.

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To address a complaint informally, you should speak to anyone involved in the situation about how their behaviour is affecting you. 

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It can be helpful to describe particular instances of this behaviour, including times, places, events or conversations in order to clearly illustrate your point. You should use the opportunity to ask the person to change or stop their behaviour.

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If you feel unable to speak to the person yourself, you can approach an identified ‘designated person’ if the production has appointed one, your manager, or if the complaint is about your manager, the next level of management.

 

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Using the Formal process

If you do not feel that the informal process is a viable option for addressing your complaint, or if you have already pursued the informal process and your issue persists, you may decide to follow the formal process for addressing complaints. 

Visionary Pictures may decide the matter is a disciplinary issue which needs to be dealt with formally.

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We ask you to put your formal complaint in writing and send it to your manager. If your complaint is against your manager you should send it to the next level of management. 

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It should include full details of your complaint including a detailed account of the incident, the date it took place, who was involved including any witnesses, and any action you may have taken. 

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This will provide the best opportunity to fairly and reasonably investigate your complaint while details of what took place can readily be remembered by anyone involved. We understand this may not be possible in all cases and will investigate any complaint made in good faith.

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Once a formal complaint has been submitted the manager will send you written acknowledgement of the complaint.

The procedure for investigating a formal complaint is outlined below:

  • we will arrange a meeting with you to discuss the problem

  • you have the right to be accompanied at the meeting

  • we may need to speak to other witnesses

  • the decision about your case will be made and communicated to you including any associated recommendations or appropriate action

  • if you are unhappy with the result you will have the right to appeal

 

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What to do if you witness bullying or harassment

At Visionary Pictures, we all share responsibility for ensuring a safe working environment for ourselves and others. You may not have experienced bullying or harassment directly, but have witnessed someone else being bullied or harassed. If this has occurred, you should raise your concerns in order to protect the safety and wellbeing of the other person.

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We understand you may feel worried about getting involved in a situation that does not directly affect you. We will support you in raising your concerns in an informal or formal way, so the bullying or harassment can stop. We will not victimise, unfairly treat or discipline you for raising a genuine concern.

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There are a number of support services (found in the Guidance) that provide confidential advice and guidance on your options. We encourage you to contact the Film and TV Support Line, 0800 054 00 00 your trade union representative or manager to explain the situation and get advice on possible next steps.

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If you decide to raise a formal complaint we ask you to send this in writing to your manager, or if the complaint is about your manager, the next level of management as soon as possible after the time of the incident. A formal complaint will be investigated in accordance with the process outlined above.

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