Zero tolerance statement

NEBDN is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for all Employees. No form of harassment, discrimination, or abuse towards our Staff with be tolerated. We have a zero-tolerance approach to inappropriate behaviour and further action will be taken if necessary. 

We will only discuss the details of an assessment or examination with the Learner taking part or with the Provider they are registered with. We will only make exceptions to this rule if there is a named contact in a Reasonable Adjustment application who may need to support the Learner. 

We would like to remind our customers and stakeholders to treat the NEBDN team with the same respect and professionalism that is given to them, If, during any form of communication, an NEBDN Employee is made to feel uncomfortable, threatened, or bullied, our Employees have the right to terminate the communication. This includes communication via online meetings, telephone calls, emails, social media, or face to face meetings. We treat all reports of incidents we receive with the respect and gravity they deserve, and NEBDN will support any Staff member who experiences or witnesses unacceptable behaviour.  

NEBDN may also take necessary action when an individual’s inappropriate behaviour or conduct has been shared via social media and/or third-party websites and may take further action against any individual(s) who continue to communicate in this manner. 

Examples of unacceptable behaviour include: 

Physical, or non-physical threats (verbal and written) such as discriminatory comments, including but not limited to sexist, racist or homophobic comments. 

Aggression and/or hostility 

Unreasonable demands – a demand becomes unreasonable when it impacts substantially on our work. Examples of this may include, repeatedly demanding responses within an unreasonable timescale, or insisting on seeing or speaking to a particular member of Staff when that is not possible or appropriate. 

Unreasonable levels of contact – volume and duration of contact with an Employee or NEBDN as a whole. This can occur over a short period, for example, a number of calls or emails in one day or one hour. 

Our Zero tolerance approach makes a safe working environment for our Employees and Customers.  

Please remain Professional. Please be Kind.