Merriebanks Anti-Harassment Policy

Our commitment

Merriebank Lettings is committed to treating people with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate sexual harassment, bullying, discriminatory abuse, threats or other intimidating behaviour towards anyone working with or for us.

This policy explains the standards we expect from people who interact with our team and how we may respond to unacceptable behaviour.

Who and what this policy covers

This policy applies to conduct towards our employees, workers, agency workers, contractors and other people working with or for Merriebank Lettings. It covers conduct by anyone we deal with through our work, including landlords, tenants, applicants, suppliers, contractors and members of the public.

It applies in person and through work-related communications, including telephone calls, email, messaging services, social media and other online channels. It covers contact at our office, at properties, during appointments and viewings, and in other situations connected with our work.

Behaviour we will not accept

Unacceptable behaviour includes, for example:

• unwanted sexual comments, jokes, questions, advances or propositions;
• unwanted touching or other physical conduct of a sexual nature;
• sending or showing sexually explicit messages, images or other material;
• discriminatory insults, bullying, intimidation, threats or abusive language; and
• continuing unwanted contact after being asked to stop.

This list gives examples and is not exhaustive. Behaviour may be unacceptable even if it is described as a joke or was not intended to cause offence.

Reporting a concern

If you experience or witness unacceptable behaviour towards a member of our team, please tell us as soon as you can. You can speak to a member of staff, contact Sophie Faulkner at sophie@merriebanklettings.co.uk, or call our office on 01983 593000 and ask for Sophie.

If your concern is about Sophie, please call the office and ask to speak with Dean Faulkner.

Please share what happened, when and where it happened, who was involved, and any messages or other information that may help us understand the concern. We will take reports seriously and handle them as sensitively as we can. We will only share information where it is needed to consider and respond to the concern.

How we may respond

We will consider each report on its circumstances and take appropriate action. This may include speaking with the people involved, setting clear boundaries for future contact, changing how appointments or communications are managed, issuing a warning, ending an appointment or asking someone to leave a property or our premises.

Where appropriate, and where consistent with our legal and contractual obligations, we may restrict or end contact or services. We may refer threatening or potentially criminal behaviour to the police.

We will not tolerate retaliation against anyone for raising a concern in good faith or helping us look into one. Where a member of our workforce is responsible for unacceptable behaviour, we will deal with it under the relevant company procedures, which may include disciplinary action.

Review

We will review this policy periodically and update it when needed.