Third-Party Harassment Prevention Standards
Buzzacott is committed to providing a working environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, free from harassment, discrimination or other inappropriate behaviour.
We expect all suppliers and clients, including their employees and subcontractors, as well as visitors and anyone engaged to work with or provide goods or services to Buzzacott (referred to on this page as third parties), to uphold the same standards of dignity, respect and professional conduct that we expect from our own people.
These Third-Party Harassment Prevention Standards (Standards) form part of Buzzacott’s expectations when appointing and working with third parties. Knowing, understanding and complying with these Standards is a fundamental requirement for anyone working for or with Buzzacott.
Preventing third-party harassment
Third parties must not harass, sexually harass, bully, intimidate, victimise or otherwise abuse any Buzzacott employee, worker or person working on Buzzacott’s behalf. This applies to conduct in person and online, at Buzzacott or third-party premises, during client work, business travel, conferences, events and work-related social activities.
Prohibited harassment includes unwanted conduct related to age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. To support a respectful and safe working environment, we expect third parties to take all reasonable steps within their control to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment, involving Buzzacott employees, workers or anyone working on Buzzacott’s behalf. This should include appropriate policies, training, supervision, reporting arrangements, risk assessment and monitoring.
Our behaviours in practice
Buzzacott’s behaviours underpin the way we work, shaping how we collaborate, support one another and interact with each other every day. Third parties should familiarise themselves with our behaviours and understand how they are expected to interact with our people:
We think independently – we recognise inappropriate behaviour, challenge it safely and raise concerns early.
We act with integrity and respect – we treat everyone with dignity and do not engage in, tolerate or excuse harassment.
We make complexity clear – we communicate expected standards clearly and ensure concerns can be reported easily.
We build relationships that last – we create professional relationships based on trust, respect and accountability.
Reporting and responding to concerns
Any actual or suspected concerns about harassment involving Buzzacott employees, workers or anyone working on Buzzacott’s behalf should be raised promptly with the Buzzacott person responsible for the relevant services, or by emailing enquiries@buzzacott.co.uk.
Concerns may also be raised directly with any of the following:
Catherine Biscoe, Ethics Partner – biscoec@buzzacott.co.uk
Peter Chapman, Managing Partner – chapmanp@buzzacott.co.uk
Catherine Walsh, HR Partner – walshc@buzzacott.co.uk
Concerns will be shared only with those who need the information to review and respond appropriately. We appreciate the courage it takes to speak up. Concerns will be reviewed promptly and handled as sensitively as possible. No one should be disadvantaged for raising a genuine concern in good faith.
Monitoring and assurance
Compliance with these Standards may be incorporated into Buzzacott’s contractual or engagement terms. Buzzacott may require evidence of compliance and may ask third parties to cooperate with reasonable enquiries, audits or investigations. Where we identify a breach, we may require corrective action and, where appropriate, remove individuals from our sites or engagements, suspend work, terminate the relevant contract or engagement, or refer matters to the relevant authorities.