Healthwatch North Yorkshire is committed to ensuring that all staff, volunteers, including trustees are treated with dignity and respect. This means freedom from sexual harassment, feeling safe and supported, and having redress if such behaviour does arise.
Sexual harassment takes many forms but whatever form it takes; it is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 as amended.
What is sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. It also covers treating someone less favourably because they have submitted to or refused to submit to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, or that is related to gender reassignment or sex.
Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
- sexual comments or jokes, which may be referred to as ‘banter’
- displaying sexually graphic pictures, posters or photos
- suggestive looks, staring or leering
- propositions and sexual advances
- making promises in return for sexual favours
- sexual gestures
- intrusive questions about a person’s private or sex life or a person discussing their own sex life
- sexual posts or contact in online communications including on social media
- spreading sexual rumours about a person
- sending sexually explicit emails, text messages or messages via other social media
- unwelcome touching, hugging, massaging or kissing
Our sexual harassment policy
Your right to access information about you
The Healthwatch North Yorkshire sexual harassment policy covers behaviour which occurs in the following situations:
- a work or volunteering situation.
- a situation occurring outside of the normal workplace or normal working hours which is related to work, for example, a working lunch, a work-related meeting, or social functions.
- outside of a work situation but involving a colleague or other person connected to Healthwatch North Yorkshire, including on social media.
- against anyone outside of a work situation where the incident is relevant to your suitability to carry out the role.
For more information about sexual harassment or to seek help, contact:
Sexual harassment - Victim Support