Here at Ben we’re committed to fostering and nurturing a culture that supports and actively encourages diversity, equity and inclusion.

All employees should be treated with respect and treated fairly in all aspects of work, including recruitment, promotion, opportunities for training, pay and benefits and discipline. We believe in the superpowers and potential of everyone, and we celebrate our differences!

You and your colleagues, and any applicants who show an interest in joining Ben, will receive fair treatment regardless of the following protected characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marital or civil partner status
• Pregnancy of maternity
• Race
• Ethnic or national origin
• Religion or belief
• Sex or sexual orientation

We have a zero tolerance to any form of discriminatory behaviour. It’s not just illegal, it’s wrong! And it goes against everything we believe in. This applies in the workplace, outside the workplace (when dealing with customers, suppliers or other work-related contacts), and on work-related trips or events, including social events.

Some examples include:

• Direct discrimination: treating someone less favourably because of a Protected Characteristic. For example, rejecting a job applicant because of their religious views or because of their sexuality.
• Indirect discrimination: a provision, criterion or practice that applies to everyone but adversely affects people with a particular Protected Characteristic more than others, and is not justified. For example, requiring someone to have a driver’s licence to work as a software engineer, because those who are disabled may not be able to drive vehicles. Such a requirement would be discriminatory unless it can be justified.
• Harassment: this includes sexual harassment and other unwanted conduct related to a Protected Characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating someone's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. Harassment is dealt with further in our Bullying & Harassment Policy.
• Victimisation: retaliation against someone who has complained or has supported someone else's complaint about discrimination or harassment.

If you feel that you have suffered or witnessed any form of discrimination, harassment or victimisation please speak with the People Team, your line manager or a member of the Leadership team as soon as possible.

Retaliation against any employee for reporting discrimination, harassment or victimisation will not be tolerated, and the company will take appropriate measures to protect those who come forward.