１．Our statement
Rosebank Law is committed to minimize and respond to workplace bullying and harassment in order to provide our employees, clients, contractors and anyone who contacts us with a healthy and safe environment. We comply with our legal obligations under the relevant laws:
- Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (LCA 2006);
- Conduct and Client Care Rules 2008 (CCCR 2008);
- Employment Relations Act 2000 (ERA 2000);
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA 2015);
- Human Rights Act 1993 (HRA 1993); and
- Harassment Act 1997 (HA 1997).
We consider that bullying, discrimination, any form of harassments is never acceptable in and/or outside of our workplace. Also, we understand that we as a law firm must not engage such conducts in accordance with r 10.3 of CCCR 2008. We understand that, if we fail to comply with this policy and any complaint arises due to such conducts, we may be subject to disciplinary action by the New Zealand Law Society.
２．Types of unacceptable behaviours
- Bullying – A repeated and unreasonable behaviour that is directed towards a person that can lead to physical or psychological harm.
- Harassment – A pattern of behaviour that is directed against a person that includes any specified act (such as watching, loitering near, following, interfering with, giving offensive things etc) defined under HA1997 or any other enactment.
- Sexual Harassment – an unwelcome or offensive sexual behaviour (e.g written, spoken, visual or physical) that is repeated, or is serious enough to have a harmful effect to a person.
- Racial Harassment – a behaviour: that directly or indirectly expresses hostility against, or brings a person into contempt or ridicule because of their race, colour, or ethnic background; that is hurtful or offensive to the person; and that is repeated or so significant to have a negative effect on the person’s employment.
- Discrimination – unlawful discrimination (e.g. age, race, sex, disability, religion etc) set out under s 21 of HRA 1993 or any other enactment.
３．How do we manage this policy
Junichi Nishimura (“Junichi”), the director as well as the principal lawyer of Rosebank Law, is the designated lawyer responsible for reporting and filing an annual certification regarding this policy to New Zealand Law Society. Junichi himself is expected to be a role model who has respectful behaviour.
We must keep this policy up-to-date. We are required to train our employees about this policy and they are kept informed of any updates to this policy from time to time.
４．Complaints process
Where an employee or any person in our business becomes a victim of an unacceptable behaviour above, it should be reported immediately to Junichi Nishimura: call at 021 162 2801 or email at lawyer-nz@rosebanklaw.co.nz.
Junichi will undertake an investigation, being independent of the issues and of the individuals involved, if a complaint raises.
Junichi is obliged to report the complaint to the New Zealand Law Society in accordance with CCCR 2008.
Alternatively, a victim can lodge a complaint with the Lawyer Complaints Service directly at complaints@lawsociety.org.nz. Any other information may be available at the New Zealand Law Society’s website at https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/professional-practice/practising-well/bullying-and-harassment/
Last updated: 1 April 2022