Work Related Social Events policy (PS 445)
Force Commitments
Nottinghamshire Police are committed to ensuring the “Pledge” and “Code of Ethics” along with position statements for the Race Action Plan (RAP) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) are a golden thread within our corporate policies, procedures, and strategy documents. In the development of this Procedure/Policy/Guidance/SOP/Strategy the author has taken into consideration the force wide commitments.
Background
From October 2024, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) bill will strengthen existing protection for workers against sexual harassment. This new law places a new duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment.
Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC also have a duty of care to provide a safe
environment for individuals, including during work related social events.
While work related socials events provide an opportunity for individuals to relax and socialise outside of the workplace, this must be balance against ensuring that individuals understand the acceptable standards of behaviour at work related social events and the disciplinary sanctions that could result from breaches to the rule.
This policy also aims to support individuals, whilst protecting Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC from legal liability and reputational damage.
Aims and objectives of the policy
Nottinghamshire Police, Office of Police and Crime Commissioner or individuals may arrange work-related social events from time to time as we recognise that it is important that individuals have a chance to gather socially.
This policy sets out the standards of behaviour expected of individuals whilst at a work-related social event.
We expect individuals to behave in an appropriate and responsible manner and in a way that does not damage the reputation of policing or adversely affect their colleagues and members of the public. Above all, we expect everyone to be able to enjoy these events in an atmosphere of friendliness without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable by another person's conduct.
Policy statement / Details
The policy applies to all police officers, police staff, staff of the OPCC, volunteers, special constabulary officers, interns and apprentices working for Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC.
Definition
At any work-related event, individuals are under a duty to represent Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC professionally. This extends to social events which, although not normally considered as ‘work’, may well be considered as an extension of the workplace. Such events may include:
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Team days or events which staff attend on account of their position within Nottinghamshire Police or the OPCC.
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Privately arranged events to which individuals are invited because they are a police officer, police staff, staff of the OPCC or volunteer of Nottinghamshire Police or the OPCC.
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Work conferences.
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Leaving drinks.
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Christmas parties or other similar gatherings throughout the year.
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Team lunches.
The list is not intended to be exhaustive and may include social events not organised by Nottinghamshire Police or the OPCC, but which individuals have been invited to because they work for Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC, such as partnership/stakeholder function.
Attendance at these events is voluntary and all members of officers, staff, staff of the OPCC and volunteers (‘staff’) attend on an equal, social footing.
Individual's responsibilities
Nottinghamshire Police or the OPCC requires its police officers, staff, staff of the
OPCC and volunteers to always behave responsibly, including during work-related social events. Individuals should always be aware of their role as a representative of Nottinghamshire Police or the OPCC and that their conduct has a significant influence on our reputation. We trust that individuals will be capable of exercising good judgment during work-related social events but individuals should be aware of the provisions of this policy.
Standards of behaviour
In all circumstances, individuals are expected to behave in an appropriate and
responsible manner. Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC’s normal rules on
behaviour will continue to operate during the social event and at any subsequent or follow-on event attended by members of staff, including:
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the code of ethics;
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PROUD values;
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Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy; and
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Sexual Harassment, Bullying, Standards of Behaviour and all other forms of harassment policy.
In accordance with these policies, discrimination, bullying or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
Staff must drink responsibly and never drink over the legal limit before driving. Staff should also take steps to ensure that they are within the legal drink-drive alcohol limit if they are going to be driving home after an event or in the morning after an event.
Staff should be aware of the requirement to attend work whilst being fit to do so. Attending work whilst ‘hungover’ may represent a failure to comply with this
requirement.
Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal drugs will operate throughout social events. The use of illegal drugs will be considered a disciplinary matter and the individual may be subject to criminal proceedings.
Please review the Substance Misuse and Alcohol Screening Procedure, which
identifies individual, supervisors and managers responsibility. If individual’s have a substance or alcohol issue, support is available and individuals are encouraged to seek the help that is required.
Individuals should treat others with respect at all work-related social events. Violence such as fighting, aggressive behaviour, verbal abuse or the use of inappropriate language, whether this is towards a colleague, an invited guest or any other third party is unacceptable.
Individuals must not behave in a way that could cause reputational damage to
Nottinghamshire Police or the OPCC.
Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC’s recognises the importance of work life
balance and, while we do not intend to restrict an individual’s activities outside of working hours, it is important to remember that the standards of professional
behaviour apply to Staff when they are on and when they are off duty. This applies particularly in respect of behaviour which results in adverse publicity to
Nottinghamshire Police and the OPCC. Such behaviour will be assessed as to
whether it gives rise to a basis for a misconduct investigation and/or proceedings.
Workplace discussions
Individuals must not do or say anything at a work-related social event that risks
breaching confidential business/operational information.
We encourage individuals to discuss workplace matters or raise any concerns they have regarding their employment/service, with their line manager or other
appropriate manager during working hours and will support Staff who experience inappropriate conduct whilst at a work-related social event.
Unauthorised absence
Any unauthorised absence on the day after the event may be treated as a disciplinary issue.
Discrimination and/or harassment
Discrimination or harassment on the grounds of age, disability, gender identity,
marriage and civil partnership, maternity and pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, (or any other unjustifiable criterion), will not be tolerated. We will take a zero-tolerance approach and use the misconduct policy and procedure wherever instances of discrimination and harassment occur.
If individuals are arranging workplace events that involve everyone in the workplace, care should be taken to ensure that invitations do not exclude individuals in circumstances that could be interpreted as either discriminatory or bullying. Discrimination, bullying and harassment will not be tolerated.
Our Sexual Harassment, Bullying, Standards of Behaviour and all other forms of
harassment policy provides a framework for ensuring individuals have channels for support and can report instances of harassment or bullying.
Statement of legislative compliance
This document has been drafted to comply with the general and specific duties in the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, Data Protection Act; Freedom of Information Act; European Convention of Human Rights; Employment Act 2002; Employment Relations Act 1999, and other legislation relevant to policing.
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PS 445:
Work Related Social Events
Type of Document:
Policy
Version:
1.0
Registered Owner:
Claire Salter
Author/Reviewer:
Sue Sullivan
Effective Date:
February 2025
Review Date:
February 2030
Linked Documents:
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PS 151 Sexual-Harassment, Bullying, Standards of Behaviour and all other forms of harassment policy
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PS 148 Staff Misconduct Policy and Procedure
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PD 501 Substance Misuse and Alcohol Screening Procedure