Employee Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK ISSUES AND UPDATES
• INTRODUCTION
• JOINING OUR ORGANISATION
• SALARY AND WAGES, ETC.
• HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT AND CONDITIONS
• SICKNESS/INJURY PAYMENTS AND CONDITIONS
• SAFEGUARDS
• STANDARDS
• HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE AND HYGIENE
• GENERAL TERMS AND PROCEDURES
• ANTI-BRIBERY POLICY
• ANTI-TAX EVASION POLICY
• WHISTLE-BLOWERS POLICY
• CAPABILITY PROCEDURES
• DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
• CAPABILITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES
• PERSONAL HARASSMENT POLICY and PROCEDURE
• OTHER POLICIES
• MONITORING
• TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK ISSUES AND UPDATES

• Issue 1: October 2021
• Issue 2: February 2021
• Issue 3: November 2022
• Issue 4: January 2023

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to our Team

We would like to wish you every success during your employment whether you recently joined us or whether you are an existing employee. We hope that your experience of working here will be positive and rewarding.

This Employee Handbook is designed both to introduce you to our organisation and to be of continuing use during your employment.

We ask that you study carefully the contents of this Employee Handbook as, in addition to setting out our rules and regulations, it also contains information on some of the main employee benefits that may be available to you and the policies and procedures relating to your employment. If you require any clarification or additional information please refer to your Line Manager.

Please note that we provide equal opportunities and are committed to the principle of equality in accordance with legislative provisions. We expect your support in implementing these policies. We will not condone any unlawful discriminatory act or attitude in the course of your employment or in your dealings with our clients, suppliers, contract workers, members of the public or with fellow employees. Acts of unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation will result in disciplinary action.

General amendments to the Employee Handbook will be issued from time to time.

JOINING OUR ORGANISATION

INDUCTION

After a successful interview, you will be sent an email with two attachments; Key Information Document and Onboarding Document. In these are links to policies which you should be aware of.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Amendments may be made to your job description from time to time in relation to our changing needs and your own ability.

MOBILITY

Although you are usually employed at one particular site, it is a condition of your employment that you are prepared, whenever applicable, to travel to any other of our sites or our client sites. This mobility is essential to the smooth running of our business.

STAFF MEETINGS, TRAINING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

We hold regular training for Role Models working in our Life Skills Course and Sessions business and it is a condition of your employment that you attend these training sessions, you will be given adequate notice.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING CERTIFICATE(S)

Your initial employment is conditional upon the provision of a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Certificate of a level appropriate to your post. You may be required to undertake subsequent criminal record checks from time to time during your employment as deemed appropriate by the Company. In the event that such certificates are not supplied, your employment with us will be terminated.

Data collected about criminal convictions will be processed in line with the Data Protection Act. You may read more about the data we hold on you, why we hold it and the lawful basis that applies in the employee privacy notice.

CONVICTIONS AND OFFENCES

During your employment, you are required to immediately report to the Practice any convictions or offences with which you are charged, including traffic offences. Data collected about criminal convictions will be processed in line with the Data Protection Act. You may read more about the data we hold on you, why we hold it and the lawful basis that applies in the employee privacy notice.

POLICY STATEMENT ON THE SECURE STORAGE, HANDLING, USE, RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF DISCLOSURES AND DISCLOSURE INFORMATION

As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to help assess the suitability of applicants for positions of trust, we comply fully with the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice regarding the correct handling, use, storage, retention and disposal of disclosures and disclosure information. We also comply fully with our obligations under the Data Protection Act.

Disclosure information is never kept in an applicant’s personnel file. It is always kept separately and securely in lockable, non-portable storage containers with access strictly controlled and limited to those who are authorised to see it as part of their duties in accordance with Section 124 of the Police Act 1997.

We maintain a record of all those to whom disclosures and disclosure information has been revealed and we recognise that it is a criminal offence to pass the information to anyone who is not entitled to receive it.

Disclosure information is only used for the specific purpose for which it was requested.

Once a recruitment (or other relevant) decision has been made, we do not keep disclosure information for any longer than is absolutely necessary in order to allow for the consideration and resolution of any disputes or complaints. Where appropriate, the Disclosure and Barring Service will be consulted and full consideration will be given to the data protection and human rights of the individual.

Once the retention period has elapsed, we will ensure that any disclosure information is immediately destroyed by secure means, i.e. by shredding, pulping or burning. While awaiting destruction, disclosure information will not be kept in any insecure receptacle (e.g. a waste bin or confidential waste sack). We will not keep any photocopy or other image of the disclosure or any copy or representation of the contents of the disclosure. However, we may keep a record of the date of issue of the disclosure, the name of the subject, the type of disclosure requested, the post for which the disclosure was requested, the unique reference number of the disclosure and the details of the recruitment (or other relevant) decision taken.

SALARY AND WAGES, ETC.

ADMINISTRATION

Payment

a) For fortnightly paid staff (Role Models employed by Role Models Life Skills Limited) you will be paid each Friday every fortnight.

b) You will receive a payslip showing how the total amount of your pay has been calculated. It will also show the deductions that have been made and the reasons for them, e.g. Income Tax, National Insurance, etc.

c) Any pay queries that you may have should be raised with Head Office. For payslip requests email support@additionfinance.co.

Timesheets

You will be required to complete and submit job sheets as directed in order to accurately record the jobs that have been completed and the time taken. Deliberate falsification of job sheets will result in disciplinary action being taken.

Overpayments

If you are overpaid for any reason, the total amount of the overpayment will normally be deducted from your next payment but if this would cause hardship, arrangements may be made for the overpayment to be recovered over a longer period.

Income Tax and National Insurance

At the end of each tax year, you will be given a form P60 showing the total pay you have received from us during that year and the amount of deductions for Income Tax and National Insurance. You may also be given a form P11D showing non-salary benefits. You should keep these documents in a safe place as you may need to produce them for tax purposes

LATENESS/ABSENTEEISM

You must attend for work punctually at the specified time(s) and you are required to comply strictly with any time recording procedures relating to your area of work.

All absences must be notified in accordance with the sickness reporting procedures laid down in this Employee Handbook.

Lateness or absence may result in disciplinary action and/or loss of appropriate payment.

PENSION SCHEME

We operate a contributory pension scheme to which you will be auto-enrolled into (subject to the conditions of the scheme). The scheme enables you to save for your retirement using your own money, together with tax relief and contributions from the Company.

SHORTAGE OF WORK

In the event that the Company is faced with a shortage of work, or is unable to provide you with work for any other reason, then you agree that the Company may temporarily:

a) place you on short-time working, in which case you will be paid for those hours worked; or

b) lay you off from work, in which case you will be paid in accordance with the statutory guarantee pay provisions in place at that time; or

c) designate you as a furloughed (or similar) worker, in accordance with the terms of any Government furlough (or similar) scheme in place from time to time, in which case during such period, if required, you will cease to carry out any work for the Company. (For this purpose you agree that the Company may adjust your salary and benefits by an appropriate amount to ensure that it receives reimbursement of such salary and benefits under the said scheme to the fullest extent possible).

The entirety of this section entitled “Shortage of work” forms part of your contractual terms and conditions.

HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT AND CONDITIONS

ANNUAL HOLIDAYS

For Role Models employed by Role Models Life Skills Limited, your holiday year begins on 1st January and ends on 31st December each year, during which you will receive a paid holiday entitlement of 5.6 working weeks inclusive of public/bank holidays.

Entitlements are pro-rata for part-time employees. In your first holiday year your entitlement will be proportionate to the amount of time left in the holiday year.

Your wage is made up of an hourly rate plus an accrual for holiday pay, which accumulates for every paid hour that you work. This breakdown will be clearly shown on your monthly payslip. Your hourly pay rate outlines on our Staffing Policy includes 12.07% holiday pay.

PUBLIC/BANK HOLIDAYS

Your entitlement to public/bank holidays is shown in your individual Statement of Main Terms of Employment.

SICKNESS/INJURY PAYMENTS AND CONDITIONS

NOTIFICATION OF INCAPACITY FOR WORK

You must notify us by telephone on the first day of incapacity at the earliest possible opportunity and by no later than 7.00am. Text messages are an acceptable method of notification as long as you receive a response with 15 minutes of sending the text message. Other than in exceptional circumstances notification should be made personally, to your Line Manager.

You should try to give some indication of your expected return date and notify us as soon as possible if this date changes. The notification procedures should be followed on each day of absence unless you are covered by a medical certificate.

If your incapacity extends to more than seven calendar days you are required to notify us of your continued incapacity once a week thereafter, unless otherwise agreed.

EVIDENCE OF INCAPACITY

Medical certificates are not issued for short-term incapacity. In these cases of incapacity (up to and including seven calendar days) you must sign a self-certification absence form on your return to work.

If your sickness has been (or you know that it will be) for longer than seven days (whether or not they are working days) you should see your doctor and make sure he/she gives you a medical certificate and forward this to us without delay. Subsequently you must supply us with consecutive medical certificates to cover the whole of your absence.

PAYMENTS

You are entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP) if you are absent for four or more consecutive days because of sickness or injury provided you meet the statutory qualifying conditions. SSP is treated as wages and is subject to normal deductions.

Qualifying days are the only days for which you are entitled to SSP. These days are normally your working days unless otherwise notified to you. The first three qualifying days of absence are waiting days for which SSP is not payable. Where a second or subsequent period of incapacity (of four days or more) occurs within 56 days of a previous period of incapacity, waiting days are not served again.

Where the circumstances of your incapacity are such that you receive or are awarded any sum by way of compensation or damages in respect of the incapacity from a third party, then any payments which we may have made to you because of the absence (including SSP) shall be repaid by you to us up to an amount not exceeding the amount of the compensation or damages paid by the third party and up to, but not exceeding, any amount paid by us.

RETURN TO WORK

You should notify your Line Manager as soon as you know on which day you will be returning to work if this differs from the date of return previously notified.

If you have been suffering from an infectious or contagious disease or illness such as rubella or hepatitis you must not report for work without clearance from your own doctor.

On return to work after any period of sickness/injury absence (including absence covered by a medical certificate), you are also required to complete a self-certification absence form and hand this to your Line Manager.

Upon returning to work after any period of sickness/injury absence, you may be required to attend a “return to work” interview to discuss the state of your health and fitness for work. Information arising from such an interview will be treated with the strictest confidence.

GENERAL

Submission of a medical certificate or sickness self-certification absence form, although giving us the reason for your absence may not always be regarded by us as sufficient justification for accepting your absence. Sickness is just one of a number of reasons for absence and although it is understandable that if you are sick you may need time off, continual or repeated absence through sickness may not be acceptable to us.

In deciding whether your absence is acceptable or not we will take into account the reasons and extent of all your absences, including any absence caused by sickness/injury. We cannot operate with an excessive level of absence as all absence, for whatever reason, reduces our efficiency.

We will take a serious view if you take sickness/injury leave which is not genuine, and it will result in disciplinary action being taken.

If we consider it necessary, we may ask your permission to contact your doctor and/or for you to be independently medically examined.

SAFEGUARDS

RIGHTS OF SEARCH

Although we do not have the contractual right to carry out searches of employees and their property (including vehicles) whilst they are on our premises or business, we would ask all employees to assist us in this matter should we feel that such a search is necessary.

Where practicable, searches will be carried out in the presence of a colleague of your choice who is available on the premises at the time of the search. This will also apply at the time that any further questioning takes place.

We reserve the right to call in the police at any stage.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All information that:

a) is or has been acquired by you during, or in the course of your employment, or has otherwise been acquired by you in confidence;

b) relates particularly to our business, or that of other persons or bodies with whom we have dealings of any sort; and

c) has not been made public by, or with our authority;

shall be confidential, and (save in the course of our business or as required by law) you shall not at any time, whether before or after the termination of your employment, disclose such information to any person without our prior written consent.

You are to exercise reasonable care to keep safe all documentary or other material containing confidential information, and shall at the time of termination of your employment with us, or at any other time upon demand, return to us any such material in your possession.

You must make yourself aware of our policies on data protection in relation to personal data and ensure compliance with them at all times.

DATA PROTECTION

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the current Data Protection Act regulates our use of your personal data. As an employer, it is our responsibility to ensure that the personal data we process in relation to you is done so in accordance with the required principles. Any data held shall be processed fairly and lawfully and in accordance with the rights of data subjects.

We will process data in line with our privacy notices in relation to both job applicants and employees.

You have several rights in relation to your data. More information about these rights is available in our Privacy Policy. We commit to ensuring that your rights are upheld in accordance with the law and have appropriate mechanisms for dealing with such.

We may ask for your consent for processing certain types of personal data. In these circumstances, you will be fully informed as to the personal data we wish to process and the reason for the processing. You may choose to provide or withhold your consent. Once consent is provided, you are able to withdraw consent at any time.

You are required to comply with all Company policies and procedures in relation to processing data. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

COMPANY PROPERTY AND COPYRIGHT

All written material, whether held on paper, electronically or magnetically which was made or acquired by you during the course of your employment with us, is our property and, where appropriate, our copyright. At the time of termination of your employment with us, or at any other time upon demand, you shall return to us any such material in your possession.

STATEMENTS TO THE MEDIA

Any statements to reporters from newspapers, radio, television, etc. in relation to our business will be given only by a Senior Manager.

INVENTIONS/DISCOVERIES

An invention or discovery made by you will normally belong to you. However, an invention or discovery made by you will become our property if it was made:

a) in the course of your normal duties under such circumstances that an invention might reasonably be expected to result from those duties;

b) outside the course of your normal duties, but during duties specifically assigned to you, when an invention might reasonably be expected to result from these; and

c) during the course of any of your duties, and at the time you had a special obligation to further our interests arising from the nature of those duties, and your particular responsibilities.

VIRUS PROTECTION PROCEDURES

In order to prevent the introduction of virus contamination into the software system, the following must be observed:

a) unauthorised software including public domain software, USBs, external hard drives, CDs or internet downloads must not be used; and

b) all software must be virus checked using standard testing procedures before being used.

USE OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT

In order to control the use of the Company’s computer equipment and reduce the risk of contamination the following will apply:

a) the introduction of new software must first of all be checked and authorised by your Line Manager before general use will be permitted;

b) only authorised staff should have access to the Company’s computer equipment;

c) only authorised software may be used on any of the Company’s computer equipment;

d) only software that is used for business applications may be used;

e) no software may be brought onto or taken from the Company’s premises without prior authorisation;

f) unauthorised access to the computer facility will result in disciplinary action; and

g) unauthorised copying and/or removal of computer equipment/software will result in disciplinary action, such actions could lead to dismissal.

STANDARDS

WASTAGE

We maintain a policy of "minimum waste" which is essential to the cost-effective and efficient running of our organisation.

You are able to promote this policy by taking extra care during your normal duties by avoiding unnecessary or extravagant use of services, time, energy, etc. The following points are illustrations of this:

a) handle machines, equipment and stock with care;

b) turn off any unnecessary lighting and heating. Keep doors closed whenever possible;

c) ask for other work if your job has come to a standstill; and

d) start with the minimum of delay after arriving for work and after breaks.

The following provision is an express written term of your contract of employment:

a) any damage to stock or property that is the result of your carelessness, negligence or deliberate vandalism will render you liable to pay the full or part of the cost of repair or replacement; and

b) any loss to us that is the result of your failure to observe rules, procedures or instruction, or is as a result of your negligent behaviour or your unsatisfactory standards of work will render you liable to reimburse to us the full or part of the cost of the loss.

In the event of failure to pay, we have the contractual right to deduct such costs from your pay.

STANDARDS OF DRESS

As you are liable to come into contact with clients and members of the public, it is important that you present a professional image with regard to appearance and standards of dress. Where uniforms are provided, these must be worn at all times whilst at work and laundered on a regular basis. Where uniforms are not provided, you should wear clothes appropriate to your job responsibilities, and they should be kept clean and tidy at all times.

On online sessions you must continue to uphold a professional level of dress.

HOUSEKEEPING

Both from the point of view of safety and of appearance, work areas must be kept clean and tidy at all times.

HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE AND HYGIENE

SAFETY

You should make yourself familiar with our Health and Safety Policy as well as our First Aid Policy.

You must not take any action that could threaten the health or safety of yourself, other employees, clients or members of the public.

You should report all accidents and injuries at work, no matter how minor, in the accident book and to your Line Manager.

You must ensure that you are aware of our fire and evacuation procedures and the action you should take in the event of such an emergency.

ALCOHOL & DRUGS POLICY

Under legislation we, as your employer, have a duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare at work of all our employees and similarly you have a responsibility to yourself and your colleagues. The use of alcohol and drugs may impair the safe and efficient running of the business and/or the health and safety of our employees.

If your performance or attendance at work is affected as a result of alcohol or drugs, or we believe you have been involved in any drug related action/offence, you may be subject to disciplinary action and, dependent on the circumstances, this may lead to your dismissal.

NO SMOKING POLICY

Smoking on the premises is not permitted. This includes e-cigarettes

HYGIENE

Any exposed cut or burn must be covered with a first-aid dressing.

If you are suffering from an infectious or contagious disease or illness such as rubella or hepatitis you must not report for work without clearance from your own doctor.

Contact with any person suffering from an infectious or contagious disease must be reported before commencing work.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Your highest attention to your own personal hygiene is requested at all times, as you work in close proximity with our clients and customers.

FITNESS FOR WORK

If you arrive for work and, in our opinion, you are not fit to work, we reserve the right to exercise our duty of care if we believe that you may not be able to undertake your duties in a safe manner or may pose a safety risk to others, and send you away for the remainder of the day with or without pay and, dependent on the circumstances, you may be liable to disciplinary action.

MANUAL HANDLING

You are required, in accordance with the Manual Handling Regulations 1992, to advise us of any condition which may make you more vulnerable to injury.

GENERAL TERMS AND PROCEDURES

CHANGES IN PERSONAL DETAILS

You must notify us of any change of name, address, telephone number, etc., so that we can maintain accurate information on our records and make contact with you in an emergency, if necessary, outside normal working hours.

OTHER EMPLOYMENT

If you already have any other employment or are considering any additional employment you must notify us so that we can discuss any implications arising from the current working time legislation.

TIME OFF

Circumstances may arise where you need time off for medical/dental appointments, or for other reasons. Where possible, such appointments should be made outside normal working hours. If this is not possible, time off required for these purposes may be granted at the discretion of your Line Manager and will normally be without pay.

MATERNITY/PATERNITY/ADOPTION LEAVE AND PAY

You may be entitled to maternity/paternity/adoption leave and pay in accordance with the current statutory provisions. If you (or your partner) become pregnant or are notified of a match date for adoption purposes you should notify your Line Manager at an early stage so that your entitlements and obligations can be explained to you.

PARENTAL/SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE

If you are entitled to take parental leave or shared parental leave in respect of the current statutory provisions, you should discuss your needs with your Line Manager who will identify your entitlements and look at the proposed leave periods dependent upon your child’s/children’s particular circumstances and the operational aspects of the business.

TIME OFF FOR DEPENDANTS

You may be entitled to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off during working hours to take action that is necessary to provide help to your dependants. Should this be necessary you should discuss your situation with your Line Manager who, if appropriate, will agree the necessary time off.

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE

Reactions to bereavement may vary greatly according to individual circumstances and the setting of fixed rules for time off is therefore inappropriate. You should discuss your circumstances with your Line Manager and agree appropriate time off.

EXPENSES

For Role Models employed by Role Models Life Skills Limited, we will reimburse you for any reasonable expenses incurred whilst travelling on our business. The rules relating to travelling expenses will be issued separately. You must provide receipts for any expenditure.

EMPLOYEES' PROPERTY AND LOST PROPERTY

We do not accept liability for any loss of, or damage to, property that you bring onto the premises. You are requested not to bring personal items of value onto the premises and, in particular, not to leave any items overnight. Articles of lost property should be handed to your Line Manager who will retain them whilst attempts are made to discover the owner.

PARKING

Where parking facilities have been made available to you on our premises you must ensure that you observe all of our traffic requirements e.g. speed limits, etc. To avoid congestion, all vehicles must be parked only in the designated parking areas. No liability is accepted for damage to private vehicles, however, it may be caused.

MAIL

All mail received by us will be opened, including that addressed to employees. Private mail, therefore, should not be sent care of our address. No private mail may be posted at our expense except in those cases where a formal re-charge arrangement has been made.

FRIENDS AND RELATIVES CONTACT / TELEPHONE CALLS / MOBILE PHONES

You should discourage your friends and relatives from either calling on you in person or by telephone except in an emergency. Personal telephone calls, both incoming and outgoing are only allowed in the case of an emergency. Permission to make outgoing personal calls should be sought from your Line Manager. Personal mobile phones should be switched off during working hours.

COMPANY MOBILE PHONES

The Company mobile phones are to be used for business purposes only except in the case of an emergency. Therefore any unauthorised personal use may be repayable by you and may result in disciplinary action in accordance with our procedures. The Company reserves the right to deduct the appropriate sums from your pay in the event that repayments are not made. The Company reserves the right to monitor all communications made on Company mobile phones in order to ensure compliance with our policies and procedures.

PERSONAL MOBILE PHONES

Role Models will not use personal mobile phones and laptops for personal use, during Role Models work or in front of children. Where appropriate, Role Models may be given permission to take photos of children completing activities on the course with their personal phones in order to attach these to end of day emails. Role Models must take responsibility for deleting ALL photos from ALL of their devices as soon as the course is over.

COMMUNICATION

Communication with Role Models is done via email and WhatsApp. If you do not have either of these we will not be able to communicate with you regarding work opportunities.

BUYING OR SELLING OF GOODS

You are not allowed to buy or sell goods on your own behalf on our premises or during your working hours.

COLLECTIONS FROM EMPLOYEES

Unless specific authorisation is given by your Line Manager, no collections of any kind are allowed on our premises.

CLIENT RELATIONS

Our business involves the provision of services to clients and some of our employees are employed to perform work on behalf of those clients, sometimes on the client’s own premises. Due to this relationship, our clients may, on rare occasions, require that such an employee be removed from a job in accordance with their contract with us. In such circumstances, we will investigate the reasons for such requests. However, if our client maintains their stance we will then take all reasonable steps to ensure that alternative work is provided. If this is not possible we may have no alternative but to terminate such an individual’s employment. This procedure is separate from any concurrent disciplinary matter that may need to be addressed.

BEHAVIOUR AT WORK

You should behave with civility towards fellow employees, and no rudeness will be permitted towards clients or members of the public. Objectionable or insulting behaviour, or bad language will render you liable to disciplinary action.

You should use your best endeavours to promote the interests of the business and shall, during normal working hours, devote the whole of your time, attention and abilities to the business and its affairs.

Any involvement in activities which could be construed as being in competition with us is not allowed.

CLIENT PREMISES

Whilst visiting or working at any of our clients premises, it is imperative that you familiarise yourself and comply with all of their rules and requirements including (but not limited to) security, health and safety, smoking, parking, etc. Failure to comply with site rules could result in your removal from site and disciplinary action being taken in accordance with our disciplinary procedures.

ADVERSE WEATHER/TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT DISRUPTION

Every reasonable effort should be made to attend work in accordance with your contract. In the event that you are unable to attend work owing to inclement weather conditions and/or severe disruption to your travel arrangements, you should report your absence through the normal absence reporting procedures. Your absence will be unpaid. Alternatively, you may be able to work additional hours to compensate for the lost hours at the sole discretion of the management and subject to availability.

CONDUCT OUTSIDE OF WORK

The Company recognises the importance of work-life balance and while we do not intend to restrict your activities outside of working hours it is important to remember that activities whether during or outside of working hours which result in adverse publicity to the Company, or which cause us to lose faith in your integrity, may give us grounds for your dismissal.

When attending any work-related social function an appropriate standard of conduct is expected from all employees. This includes but is not limited to any Christmas lunch, nights out, dinners or other social events with suppliers, customers, etc.

Work-related social functions can be a great opportunity to celebrate and get to know your colleagues better. However, it is important to remember that our Personal Harassment Policy and Procedure, Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures and Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Policy apply fully at these events. These procedures are either linked to or detailed separately in this Employee Handbook, and you should ensure that you familiarise yourself with them and are mindful of your obligations to adhere to each of them.

The use of drugs and/or excessive consumption of alcohol is prohibited at all times at work-related functions. For the purposes of this policy, the term ‘drugs’ is used to describe both illegal drugs and other psychoactive (mind-altering) substances which may or may not be illegal.

You must respect all property and premises when attending any social function and you may be liable for the cost of any repair or replacement as a result of your actions. We reserve the right to make an appropriate deduction from your pay should it be found that any damage at a venue was a result of your actions. Disciplinary action may also be taken against you.

Anti-discrimination Policy

Consistent with our Code of Conduct, every RMLSL team member, whether working on a full-time, part-time or voluntary basis, must be respectful to others when conducting business on behalf of RMLSL or when they identify or could be identified as an RMLSL employee. Remember, even when you are on a personal account, your social media activity could be seen by customers or potential customers, so you should treat every interaction on social media as if you are dealing with a potential customer. While we value employee privacy and a diversity of perspectives across our workforce, RMLSL has zero tolerance for racism, bigotry, misogyny, express or implied threats of harassment or physical harm, or hate speech. “Hate speech” includes any speech – or endorsement or promotion of speech – that is derogatory toward a group of people based on a protected classification. This can include race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexuality, caste, gender or disability. For example, speech that dehumanizes, ridicules, or condones or promotes violence against a protected class of people is hate speech.

THIRD PARTY INVOLVEMENT

We reserve the right to allow third parties to chair any meeting, for example disciplinary, capability, grievance, this is not an exhaustive list. We will seek your consent at the relevant time to share relevant ‘special categories of data’ where it is necessary for the purposes of that hearing.

RECORDING OF FORMAL MEETINGS

We reserve the right to record any formal meetings whether conducted by us or a third party, a copy of the recording can be made available on request. All personal data collected for this purpose will be processed in line with the current Data Protection Act.

ANTI-BRIBERY POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Bribery is a criminal offence. The Company prohibits any form of bribery. We require compliance, from everyone connected with our business, with the highest ethical standards and anti-bribery laws applicable. Integrity and transparency are of utmost importance to us and we have a zero tolerance attitude towards corrupt activities of any kind, whether committed by employees or by third parties acting for or on behalf of the Company.

POLICY

It is prohibited, directly or indirectly, for any employee or person working on our behalf to offer, give, request or accept any bribe i.e. gift, loan, payment, reward or advantage, either in cash or any other form of inducement, to or from any person or Company in order to gain commercial, contractual or regulatory advantage for the Company, or in order to gain any personal advantage for an individual or anyone connected with the individual in a way that is unethical.

SUSPICION

If we suspect that you have committed an act of bribery or attempted bribery, an investigation will be carried out and, in line with our disciplinary procedure where appropriate, action may be taken against you which may result in your dismissal, or the cessation of our business arrangement with you.

REPORTING

If you, as an employee or person working on our behalf, suspect that an act of bribery or attempted bribery has taken place, even if you are not personally involved, you are expected to report this to a Senior Manager. You may be asked to give a written account of events.

Staff are reminded of the Company’s Whistleblowing Policy which is available in this Employee Handbook.

GIFTS AND HOSPITALITY

We realise that the giving and receiving of gifts and hospitality as a reflection of friendship or appreciation where nothing is expected in return may occur, or even be commonplace, in our industry. This does not constitute bribery where it is proportionate and recorded properly.

No gift should be given nor hospitality offered by an employee or anyone working on our behalf to any party in connection with our business without receiving prior written approval from your Line Manager.

Similarly, no gift or offer of hospitality should be accepted by an employee or anyone working on our behalf without receiving prior written approval from your Line Manager.

RECORD KEEPING

A record will be made by your Line Manager of every instance in which gifts or hospitality are given or received.

As the law is constantly changing, this policy is subject to review and the Company reserves the right to amend this policy without prior notice

ANTI-TAX EVASION POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Tax evasion is a criminal offence. The Company prohibits any form of tax evasion. Involvement in the criminal facilitation of tax evasion exposes the Company and the person facilitating the evasion to a criminal offence. It will also damage our reputation and the confidence of our customers, suppliers and business partners.

Indicators of tax evasion are:

a) request for payment by cash;

b) overly-complex payment mechanisms;

c) services/goods provided to jurisdictions that do not subscribe to Common Reporting Standards;

d) transactions involving overly complex supply chains;

e) transactions involving private banking facilities; and/or

f) records are incomplete or missing.

Our position is simple: we conduct our business to the highest legal and ethical standards. We will not be party to tax evasion or the facilitation of tax evasion of any form. Such acts would damage our reputation and expose us, and our staff and representatives, to the risk of fines and imprisonment.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to tax evasion facilitation by our people and our third party representatives. We are committed to:

a) rejecting the facilitation of tax evasion; and

b) not recommending the services of others who do not have reasonable prevention procedures in place.

We require compliance in regards to this from everyone connected with our business. Integrity and transparency are of utmost importance to us.

DEFINITIONS OF TAX EVASION

Tax evasion is the practice of using illegal methods to avoid paying tax. It frequently involves contrived, artificial transactions that serve no purpose other than to reduce tax liability.

POLICY

It is prohibited, directly or indirectly, for any employee or person working on our behalf to take part in any activity relating to tax evasion.

If we suspect that you have taken part in such activity, an investigation will be carried out and, in line with our disciplinary procedure where appropriate, action may be taken against you which may result in your dismissal, or the cessation of our business arrangement with you.

If you, as an employee or person working on our behalf, suspect any activity related to tax evasion or attempted tax evasion has taken place, even if you are not personally involved, you are expected to report this to a Senior Manager. You may be asked to give a written account of events.

TRAINING/MONITORING/REVIEW

The Company will ensure that it gives all relevant training for staff in relation to financial crime detection and prevention, it will ensure it monitors and enforces compliance with the prevention procedures and regularly review the effectiveness of prevention procedures, refining them where necessary.

CONCERNS

Staff are reminded of the Company’s Whistleblowing policy which is available in this Employee Handbook, or upon request.

WHISTLE-BLOWERS POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Under certain circumstances, employees are protected from suffering any detriment or termination of employment if they make disclosures about organisations for whom they work.

QUALIFYING DISCLOSURES

1) Certain disclosures are prescribed by law as “qualifying disclosures”. A “qualifying disclosure” means a disclosure of information that the employee genuinely and reasonably believes is in the public interest and shows that the Company has committed a “relevant failure” by:

a) committing a criminal offence;

b) failing to comply with a legal obligation;

c) a miscarriage of justice;

d) endangering the health and safety of an individual;

e) environmental damage; or

f) concealing any information relating to the above.

2) These acts can be in the past, present or future, so that, for example, a disclosure qualifies if it relates to environmental damage that has happened, is happening, or is likely to happen. The Company will take any concerns that you may raise relating to the above matters very seriously.

3) The Employment Rights Act 1996 provides protection for workers who ‘blow the whistle’ where they reasonably believe that some form of illegality, injustice or breach of health and safety has occurred or is likely to occur. The disclosure has to be “in the public interest”. We encourage you to use the procedure to raise any such concerns.

THE PROCEDURE

1) In the first instance you should report any concerns you may have to a Senior Manager who will treat the matter with complete confidence. If you are not satisfied with the explanation or reason given to you, you should raise the matter with the appropriate official organisation or regulatory body.

2) If you do not report your concerns to a Senior Manager you should take them direct to the appropriate organisation or body.

TREATMENT BY OTHERS

Bullying, harassment or any other detrimental treatment afforded to a colleague who has made a qualifying disclosure is unacceptable. Anyone found to have acted in such a manner will be subject to disciplinary action.

CAPABILITY POLICY and PROCEDURES

INTRODUCTION

We recognise that during your employment with us your capability to carry out your duties may deteriorate. This can be for a number of reasons, the most common ones being that either the job changes over a period of time and you fail to keep pace with the changes, or you change (most commonly because of health reasons) and you can no longer cope with the work.

JOB CHANGES/GENERAL CAPABILITY ISSUES

If the nature of your job changes or if we have general concerns about your ability to perform your job we will try to ensure that you understand the level of performance expected of you and that you receive adequate training and supervision. Concerns regarding your capability will normally first be discussed in an informal manner and you will be given time to improve.

If your standard of performance is still not adequate you will be warned in writing that a failure to improve and to maintain the performance required could lead to your dismissal. We will also consider the possibility of a transfer to more suitable work if possible.

If there is still no improvement after a reasonable time and we cannot transfer you to more suitable work, or if your level of performance has a serious or substantial effect on our organisation or reputation, you will be issued with a final warning that you will be dismissed unless the required standard of performance is achieved and maintained.

If such improvement is not forthcoming after a reasonable period of time, you will be dismissed with the appropriate notice.

MISDEMEANOURS

It is paramount that our learners and parents receive a high quality, consistent and reliable service. Misdemeanours by our Role Models such as starting an online session late, not turning up at all or having ongoing internet issues all significantly impact the customer’s experience and can often be the reason for a customer choosing to end their engagement with Role Models. As such, we will record any occurrences and log these. Should a Role Model reach a total of 3 logged ‘misdemeanours’ (within a 2yr period) we will unfortunately have to make the decision to end our contract with them. This is so we can be sure our Role Models are able to deliver a reliable and consistent service. It is also at our discretion to choose to end the contract sooner than 3 ‘misdemeanours’ based on the significance of the first or second, or based on concerns about the quality of the delivery.

PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES/HEALTH ISSUES

Personal circumstances may arise which do not prevent you from attending for work but which prevent you from carrying out your normal duties (e.g. a lack of dexterity or general ill health). If such a situation arises, we will normally need to have details of your medical diagnosis and prognosis so that we have the benefit of expert advice. Under normal circumstances, this can be most easily obtained by asking your own doctor for a medical report. Your permission is needed before we can obtain such a report and we will expect you to co-operate in this matter should the need arise. When we have obtained as much information as possible regarding your condition and after consultation with you, a decision will be made about your future employment with us in your current role or, where circumstances permit, in a more suitable role.

There may also be personal circumstances that prevent you from attending work, either for a prolonged period(s) or for frequent short absences. Under these circumstances, we will need to know when we can expect your attendance record to reach an acceptable level. This may again mean asking your own doctor for a medical report or by making whatever investigations are appropriate in the circumstances. When we have obtained as much information as possible regarding your condition, and after consultation with you, a decision will be made about your future employment with us in your current role or, where circumstances permit, in a more suitable role.

SHORT SERVICE STAFF

We retain discretion in respect of the capability procedures to take account of your length of service and to vary the procedures accordingly. If you have a short amount of service, you may not be in receipt of any warnings before dismissal.

PERSONAL HARASSMENT POLICY and PROCEDURE

INTRODUCTION

Harassment or victimisation on the grounds of the following protected characteristic: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation is unacceptable.

Personal harassment takes many forms but whatever form it takes, it is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 and will not be tolerated.

This policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains up to date and in order to monitor its effectiveness.

SCOPE

We deplore all forms of personal harassment and seek to ensure that the working environment is sympathetic to all those who work for us. This includes employees, workers, agency workers, volunteers and contractors in all areas of our Company, including any overseas sites.

DEFINITIONS

Harassment

This is unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person.

Unwanted conduct can include:

a) spoken words;

b) banter;

c) written words;

d) posts or contact on social media;

e) imagery;

f) graffiti;

g) physical gestures;

h) facial expressions;

i) mimicry;

j) jokes or pranks;

k) acts affecting a person’s surroundings;

l) aggression; and

m) physical behaviour towards a person or their property.

Sexual Harassment

This 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.

a) sexual comments or jokes;

b) displaying sexually graphic pictures, posters or photos;

c) suggestive looks, staring or leering;

d) propositions and sexual advances;

e) making promises in return for sexual favours;

f) sexual gestures;

g) intrusive questions about a person’s private or sex life or a person discussing their own sex life;

h) sexual posts or contact on social media;

i) spreading sexual rumours about a person;

j) sending sexually explicit emails or text messages; and

k) unwelcome touching, hugging, massaging or kissing.

Less favourable treatment for rejecting or submitting to unwanted conduct

This occurs when:

a) someone is subjected to unwanted conduct:

i) of a sexual nature;

ii) related to sex; or

iii) related to gender reassignment.

b) the unwanted conduct has the purpose or effect of:

i) violating their dignity; or

ii) creating an intimidating, hostile degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them, and

c) they are treated less favourably because they submitted to, or rejected the unwanted conduct.

CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE COVERED

This policy covers behaviour which occurs in the following situations:

a) a work situation

b) a situation occurring outside of the normal workplace or normal working hours which is related to work, for example, a working lunch or social event with colleagues;

c) outside of a work situation but against a colleague or other person connected to the Company, including on social media;

d) against anyone outside of a work situation where they incident is relevant to their suitability to carry out the role.

COMPLAINING ABOUT PERSONAL HARASSMENT

Informal Complaint

We recognise that complaints of personal harassment, and particularly of sexual harassment, can sometimes be of a sensitive or intimate nature and that it may not be appropriate for you to raise the issue through our normal grievance procedure. In these circumstances you are encouraged to raise such issues with a senior colleague of your choice (whether or not that person has a direct supervisory responsibility for you) as a confidential helper. This person cannot be the Senior Manager who will be responsible for investigating the matter if it becomes a formal complaint.

If you are the victim of minor harassment you should make it clear to the harasser on an informal basis that their behaviour is unwelcome and ask the harasser to stop. If you feel unable to do this verbally then you should hand a written request to the harasser, and your confidential helper can assist you in this.

Formal Complaint

Where the informal approach fails or if the harassment is more serious, you should bring the matter to the attention of a Senior Manager as a formal written complaint and again your confidential helper can assist you in this. If possible, you should keep notes of the harassment so that the written complaint can include:

a) the name of the alleged harasser;

b) the nature of the alleged harassment;

c) the dates and times when the alleged harassment occurred;

d) the names of any witnesses; and

e) any action already taken by you to stop the alleged harassment.

On receipt of a formal complaint we will take action to separate you from the alleged harasser to enable an uninterrupted investigation to take place. This may involve a temporary transfer of the alleged harasser to another work area or suspension with contractual pay until the matter has been resolved.

The person dealing with the complaint will invite you to attend a meeting, at a reasonable time and location, to discuss the matter and carry out a thorough investigation. You have the right to be accompanied at such a meeting by your confidential helper or another work colleague of your choice and you must take all reasonable steps to attend. Those involved in the investigation will be expected to act in confidence and any breach of confidence will be a disciplinary matter.

On conclusion of the investigation, which will normally be within ten working days of the meeting with you, the decision of the investigator, detailing the findings, will be sent in writing to you.

You have the right to appeal against the findings of the investigator in accordance with the appeal provisions of the grievance procedure.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

If the decision is that the allegation is well founded, the harasser will be liable to disciplinary action in accordance with our disciplinary procedure. An employee who receives a formal warning or who is dismissed for harassment may appeal by using our capability/disciplinary appeal procedure.

When deciding on the level of disciplinary sanction to be applied, we will take into consideration aggravating factors such as abuse of power over a more junior colleague.

If you bring a complaint of harassment you will not be victimised for having brought the complaint. However if it is concluded that the complaint is both untrue and has been brought with malicious intent, disciplinary action will be taken against you.

THIRD PARTY HARASSMENT

Third party harassment occurs when one of our workforce is subjected to harassment by someone who is not part of our workforce but who is encountered in connection with work. This includes our clients, customers, suppliers, members of the public. Third party harassment of our workforce will not be tolerated.

Should you be subjected to third party harassment, you are encouraged to report this as soon as possible to your Line Manager.

Should a client or customer harass a member of our workforce, they will be warned that continued provision of our service to them will cease if they are to act in a similar way again. Should their behaviour recur, they will be informed that our service to them will cease. Any criminal acts will be reported to the police, and we will share information relating to the incident with our other branches to ensure that we maintain a consistent approach to the cessation of our services.

OTHER POLICIES

SAFEGUARDING

Please refer to our Offline and Online Safeguarding Policies.

Please also refer to our Safeguarding training

EQUITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY POLICY

Please refer to our Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Policy

SAFER RECRUITMENT POLICY

Please refer to our Safer Recruitment Policy

DISCIPLINARY POLICY

Please see here for our Disciplinary Policy

GRIEVANCE POLICY

Please see here for our Grievance Policy

E-SAFTEY POLICY

Please see here for our E-Saftey Policy

STAFF CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY

Please see here for our Staff Code of Conduct Policy

MONITORING

We will maintain and review the employment records of all employees in order to monitor their progress.

Monitoring may involve:

• the collection and classification of information regarding the race in terms of ethnic/national origin and sex of all applicants and current employees;
• the examination by ethnic/national origin and sex of the distribution of employees and the success rate of the applicants; and
• recording recruitment, training and promotional records of all employees, the decisions reached and the reason for those decisions.
• The results of any monitoring will be reviewed at regular intervals to assess the effectiveness of the staff

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

RESIGNATIONS

All resignations must be supplied in writing, stating the reason for resigning your post.

TERMINATING EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT GIVING NOTICE

If you terminate your employment without giving or working the required period of notice, as indicated in your individual Statement of Main Terms of Employment, you will have an amount equal to any additional cost of covering your duties during the notice period not worked deducted from any termination pay due to you. This is an express written term of your contract of employment. You will also forfeit any contractual accrued holiday pay due to you over and above your statutory holiday pay, if you fail to give or work the required period of notice.

RETURN OF OUR PROPERTY

On the termination of your employment you must return all our property which is in your possession or for which you have responsibility. Failure to return such items will result in the cost of the items being deducted from any monies outstanding to you. This is an express written term of your contract of employment.

GARDEN LEAVE

If either you or the Company serves notice on the other to terminate your employment the Company may require you to take “garden leave” for all or part of the remaining period of your employment.

NB. During any period of garden leave you will continue to receive your full pay and any other contractual benefits.