[vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]We all enjoy a bit of work banter from time to time. Sharing humour is a great way of getting to know each other at work, lightening the mood and boosting morale – but inappropriate jokes and remarks can be offensive and discriminatory and can leave people feeling hurt, humiliated and excluded.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]There are no hard and fast rules about what is and isn’t acceptable work banter. What people find acceptable can vary a lot, depending on things like their personality, their age, their life experience or their ethnic background – and it can also depend a lot on the context and the spirit in which the remarks were made.

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Is work banter a positive thing?” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1533199270429{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]While business psychologist Gordon Tinline believes that work banter can be a positive thing, he stresses the need to exert caution in today’s diverse working environments.[/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”7902″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][vc_column_text]

“No-one wants to go to work and feel that it’s a sterile working environment or that you have to be very guarded about everything you say or hypersensitive about what you say to every individual. But we do have to be careful about banter. It’s not good enough to justify banter that’s inappropriate with ‘that’s what we’ve always done’, or ‘most of my colleagues don’t have a problem with that’. If one or two of your colleagues have a problem with it, then it’s disrespectful and inappropriate and can become something that’s a broader problem for the organisation.”
Gordon Tinline

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Under the Equality Act 2010, employees can bring claims of discrimination where they believe they have been subjected to unwanted conduct, such as jokes and banter that relate to a protected characteristic, such as age, disability, or sexual orientation. However, it’s important to remember that banter that doesn’t relate to a protected characteristic – like jokes about a person’s weight or height, for example – can still lead to complaints of bullying and harassment.

The most effective way of preventing work banter from becoming a problem is to create a working environment that’s built on respect. A key part of this is providing equality and diversity training for all staff and having a zero tolerance approach to bullying and harassment. Make sure banter doesn’t become a problem in your organisation with Banter in the workplace training from VinciWorks[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Banter at work video preview” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/BuEAn0LGqrY” align=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Our Banter training films come in these formats.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_flip_box text_color=”dark” icon_color=”Accent-Color” bg_color_2=”#f8f8f8″ text_color_2=”dark” h_text_align=”left” v_text_align=”top” image_loading=”default” flip_direction=”horizontal-to-left” front_content=”Short film”]An essential overview of the key learning points of a topic in a 10-minute film. For delivery online or in a classroom.[/nectar_flip_box][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][nectar_flip_box text_color=”dark” icon_color=”Accent-Color” bg_color_2=”#f8f8f8″ text_color_2=”dark” h_text_align=”left” v_text_align=”top” image_loading=”default” flip_direction=”horizontal-to-left” front_content=”Micro-course”]A 15-minute video-based online learning journey delivered in bite-sized chunks with an easy-to-use menu. Ideal for learning on the go.[/nectar_flip_box][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About Skill Boosters” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1533199684314{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”]Used by leading organisations around the globe, Skill Boosters produce video-rich online courses that engage learners to bring about real and lasting behavioural change in the workplace.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]