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Dignity and respect at work

Respect me!

At Kent County Council (KCC), we are committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful working environment for everyone. Our Dignity and Respect at Work Policy outlines the standards we uphold to ensure all individuals are treated fairly and with respect.

Our commitment

We strive to maintain workplaces free from:

  • discrimination
  • harassment
  • violence
  • offensive or unacceptable behaviour

This policy supports our broader approach to equality, resolution, and feedback, and applies to:

  • KCC employees
  • volunteers
  • elected Members
  • people accessing council services
  • partner organisations and contractors.

What we stand for

  • Respect for All: Everyone interacting with KCC should be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Zero Tolerance: We do not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination, or microaggressions.
  • Inclusive Culture: We promote understanding, tolerance, and respect across all areas of our work.
  • Taking Action: All staff and partners are expected to challenge and report inappropriate behaviour.

Raising concerns

Our staff are being actively encouraged to report all incidents of harassment, bullying and abuse.

Respect Me!

No one should feel bullied or harassed or experience abuse in the workplace. Everyone deserves to come to work and feel respected, whether that is by a service user or their relative, members of the public or from within KCC itself. Our Respect Me campaign aims to raise awareness of the council's zero tolerance approach and to encourage everyone to treat each other with respect and dignity.