The safety and comfort of our members and staff at UNIT 54 GRFT Training Club a priority. Everyone has the right to be, and to feel, safe. We expect everyone to be respectful to each other and there are no circumstances where it is okay to intimidate or harass another person.
If any member, visitor, staff or coaches in our gym feel they have been harassed they should speak to a member of the gym management team, if you are unable to do so please email hello@unit54grft.com. Every person and every case will be reviewed in detail then dealt with sensitively and as confidential as possible.
OUR POLICY
This policy applies to all people who use, access, or provide services in UNIT 54 GRFT Training Club.
It outlines what UNIT 54 GRFT Training Club defines as harassment and our approach to managing allegations or experience of this behaviour in our gym.
HARASSMENT CAN BE DEFINED AS
- Aggressive pressure or intimidation.
- Unwelcome attention based on personal characteristics.
- Conduct which threatens, intimidates, alarms or makes a user uncomfortable putting them at fear for their safety.
- Physical violence, or direct or inferred sexual threat.
- Threatening, offensive, unwelcome, abusive verbal language or behaviour.
HARASSMENT CAN BE
- Direct – to you as an individual from another individual or group of individuals.
- Indirect – witnessed towards someone else, or a group you are not/ or do not wish to be related or linked to.
- Harassment doesn’t have to be about you to affect and impact you.
HARASSMENT EXAMPLES
There are many forms of Harassment, some examples of these are:
- Negative, unwelcome, aggressive or detrimental comments about race, heritage or ethnicity.
- Comments, jokes or suggestive statements about someone’s sexual orientation, gender or identity.
- Derogatory comments or actions regarding a person’s ability or disability – physical or mental.
- Exclusive or negative comments, suggestions or behaviours towards a person because of their age.
- Unkind, negative comments that will offend or embarrass someone because of their size, appearance or fitness levels.
IN FACILITY HARASSMENT EXAMPLES
Harassment may take on many forms, but in a facility environment all of the above can be seen through unwanted, unreasonable and unnecessary behaviours that have a negative impact on another person or even group of people.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT EXAMPLES
There are many forms of Sexual Harassment, some examples of this are (this list is not exhaustive):
- Unwelcome physical contact – touching, patting, pinching, stroking, kissing, hugging, fondling or inappropriate touching.
- Physical violence, including sexual assault (as defined by the Crown Prosecution Service/Sexual Offences Act).
- Sexual comments, jokes or stories that offend or humiliate a person or group of people.
- Unwanted comments on a person’s looks, dress, sexuality, age or gender in a derogatory or objectifying way.
- Repeated unwanted flirting or flirting at an inappropriate time which could be deemed to undermine or damage a person’s reputation.
- Lewd behaviour such as leering, whistling or gesturing.
IN FACILITY SEXUAL HARASSMENT EXAMPLES
Harassment may take on many forms, but examples of this in a facility environment are:
- Uninvited correction of another member’s form or technique when training.
- Taking unsolicited photographs or videos of another person.
- Excessive watching or staring at another person – directly or via mirrors.
- Continuously exercising next to or near to another person or following them around the facility.
- Sending or sharing of unwelcome personal images to any other person.
- Unwanted flirtation or sexual advances.
- Commenting on other people’s body, looks or clothing (appearance).
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED HARASSMENT OR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
If you feel you have been the victim of harassment by a member or employee, where appropriate you should discuss this with them directly. If this is not possible or you are uncomfortable to do so, you should report it to the Gym Management immediately. We will then commence an investigation which will follow the company procedures and may include:
- Report the allegation to gym management within the gym.
- Taking a statement from you about the incident.
- Discussing allegations with the individual they are against and use efforts to preserve confidentiality.
- Reviewing the initial allegations with the owners to agree any immediate action.
- The alleged individual may be suspended from the facility whilst a full investigation is carried out.
- A full investigation meeting (via phone or video call) may be arranged with you, with notes of the discussion taken.
- CCTV footage will be reviewed (if available).
- Statements/notes will be taken from any witnesses (if available).
- A review and recording of any written or other evidence (text, email, social media posts etc) may be conducted.
If, after investigation there is sufficient evidence to support the allegations we will do everything possible to ensure any actions are handled in a timely and just manner, or close proceedings if there is insufficient evidence to support the allegations.
- Inform all parties of the outcome.
- Offer mediation (if appropriate) to enable and support both parties to move forwards.
- If the incident is referred to the Police, we will cooperate in full with all requests.
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF MEMBER INVESTIGATION
If following an investigation of an incident, there is a belief that the user had acted with poor judgement or made an innocent error – a warning, apology and education may be the appropriate action to take.
If, however, the investigation provides evidence that there has been direct or indirect intentional harassment, a formal sanction may be issued. Sanctions will be in line with the following guidance:
- A warning of potential ban for a second offence or a severe first offence.
- Immediate ban and/or termination of membership for user
- Referral of the incident, with consent of the aggrieved, to the police.
OTHER BEHAVIOURS UNIT 54 GRFT TRAINING CLUB WILL NOT TOLERATE
If we believe that a member / user has acted in a way that we deem inappropriate or in anyway goes against the ethos of UNIT 54 GRFT Training Club we have the right to terminate a membership with immediate effect. We may issue a verbal or written warning before considering an immediate termination, however this will be at the discretion of UNIT 54 GRFT Training club owners.
Conduct that this includes but is not limited to are;
- Threatening and/or offensive behaviour and/or language towards members, staff and/or members of the public
- Breaching the gym contract
- Committing a criminal offence / being subject to a criminal investigation
- Inappropriate photography / videography