Our interactive half-day workshop is designed to improve workplace interactions by addressing the boundary between casual banter and inappropriate behaviour. This session breaks down barriers, enhances confidence, and sparks key lightbulb moments for meaningful change. Participants will gain the tools and understanding needed to create respectful, inclusive work environments, with an appreciation of the legal and social aspects of DEI.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

• Understand the true meaning of respect in the workplace and build awareness around it.
• Grasp the concepts of equality, diversity, and inclusion, along with their legal context.
• Recognise the effects of assumptions and stereotypes and develop strategies to consciously evaluate automatic thoughts.
• Identify the differences between banter, bullying, discrimination, and harassment.
• Gain confidence to address appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, equipped with a practical tool for initiating courageous conversations.
• Commit to actions that encourage respect and inclusivity at work.

Workshop Outline

Respect and Inclusion: Participants will begin by discussing respect and inclusion using a video as a prompt. An introspective activity will explore assumptions about each other, followed by small group discussions to understand others’ perspectives.

Challenging Assumptions: We will explore why we make assumptions and how they create workplace barriers and conflicts. Participants will examine the impact of stereotypes and our collective responsibility to learn from our actions and words.

Equality Law Overview: We will cover legal rights and responsibilities under relevant equality laws, encouraging participants to consider factors beyond legislation that affect diverse experiences and inclusion barriers.

Defining Boundaries: A scenario called “Communication Breakdown” will illustrate the difference between intent and impact. We’ll explore the boundaries between discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, and banter, using a quiz to reinforce this understanding.

When Banter Crosses the Line: Participants will witness a video scenario where light-hearted conversation becomes potentially unlawful. This highlights the consequences of crossing boundaries and explains the bystander effect, offering strategies to become active bystanders, including the “Wait a SEC” tool for initiating courageous conversations.

EDI Action Planning: Participants will reflect on personal commitments to change behaviours, habits, or approaches. Sharing these commitments promotes accountability and collaboration, creating a supportive environment for growth. Action plans will be collected and shared with project sponsors for internal progress.