Dignity and Respect in the workplace in the spotlight

Dignity and Respect in the workplace is back in the news as two Irish colleges have failed to outline their plans for tackling sexual harassment and violence at their institutions to Minister Simon Harris.

The colleges, the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), were given until the end of March to submit their proposals to the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Having expressed his disappointment with the colleges, Mr Harris said the plans are essential for making college life safer for both staff and students. The plans must outline the colleges’ zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment as well as how complaint handling or disciplinary procedures/protocols can be improved. Targeted awareness campaigns must also be implemented along with a review of institutional sexual misconduct policies.

Dignity and Respect in the workplace training

When it comes to Dignity and Respect in the workplace training, Graphite HRM has over a decade of experience helping employers, business owners, and HR personal understand the fundamentals by providing bespoke training sessions that cover:

  • An overview of employment equality and health & safety legislation as it relates to Dignity and Respect in the business.
  • An understanding of the associated behaviours, as well as what bullying & harassment in the workplace is and what it looks like.
  • Code of Practice, policy, and the responsibilities of staff.
  • The resolution process.

In more detail, the following areas are considered during each session:

What is bullying & harassment?

  • Understanding the origin of the definitions of sexual harassment, harassment, and bullying.
  • Defining the differences between bullying and harassment.
  • Understanding the concept of vicarious liability for the business.
  • Understanding the legal responsibilities of employers, managers, and employees.

The resolution process

  • Understanding the resolution processes as prescribed by the Codes of Practice and policy.
  • Outlining what options are available to persons who have made a complaint of bullying, harassment, or sexual harassment.
  • Understanding the difference between an informal and formal resolution process.
  • Understanding the potential implications of a formal investigation.

Escalating a complaint

  • Identifying and addressing areas that may cause difficulties or concerns for people working within the business.
  • Understanding the responsibilities of all employees in the workplace.
  • Understanding the methodology behind escalating a complaint.

Would you like to arrange a Dignity and Respect in the workplace training session?

If you would like to arrange Dignity and Respect in the workplace training for your business, or want to speak to a HR consultant about an issue you’re having, call 01 886 0350 now or request a callback here.

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Minister Neale Richmond

Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Neale Richmond TD was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business and the Department of Social Protection in January 2023.

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Mark Carpenter

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Mark Carpenter is Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs at Sky Ireland. In this role he has responsibility for External and Internal Communications, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs and the company’s ‘Bigger Picture’ (CSR) programme. He also works closely with Sky Group teams on a variety of matters, in particular our partnerships with domestic broadcasters.

Prior to working at Sky, Mark worked as a Policy Officer in Houses of the Oireachtas and as a Management Consultant at Accenture. He has a BA in History from Oxford University and a PhD in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin.

Nora Cashe

Litigation and Compliance Manager, Peninsula

Nóra studied Law in Griffith College Dublin and qualified as a Barrister in 2008, practising in the area of Criminal law. She is also member of the Irish Employment Law Association.

Nora has extensive experience representing clients at Employment Tribunal hearings, Conciliation / Mediation meetings before both the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. 

Nóra is a member of the Irish Employment Law Association and engages with the WRC Adjudication Service as part of their stakeholder engagement forum.

Deiric McCann

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Rhiannon Coyne

Senior HR Consultant, Graphite HRM

Rhiannon Coyne is a Senior HR Consultant at Graphite HRM and will be providing an overview of best practice on how to deal with complaints of bullying and harassment in the workplace. 

With a number of recent updates to employment laws, Rhiannon will take a closer look at employment equality and how it is interlinked to Health & Safety and what employers can learn from recent case laws.

David Begg

Chairman, Workplace Relations Commission

David Begg was appointed Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in January 2021.

David is also a professor at Maynooth University Institute of Social Sciences. Mr Begg’s extensive history in the trade union movement included leading the ESB Officers Association and Irish Congress of Trade Unions, stepping away from the latter in 2001 to chair international aid agency Concern.

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