Banter, Boundaries & Behaviour at Work
Banter, boundaries, and everyday behaviour affect inclusion, psychological safety, and workplace culture.
This training replaces simple compliance with practical social intelligence. It’s about maintaining a high-energy, human culture without crossing lines or causing harm.
Learning outcomes
- See how quickly intent and impact can shift in everyday moments
- Define acceptable behaviour, bullying, discrimination, and harassment
- Close the gap on misunderstandings and grey areas
- Practise how to address behaviour in the moment
- Promote respect across social media, messaging apps, and social events with greater confidence
How This Works
- We unpack workplace interactions (optionally with actors) involving humour, banter and boundary-crossing, to see how quickly intent, impact, and power can shift in everyday moments.
- Participants learn clear, practical definitions of acceptable behaviour, bullying, discrimination, and harassment, grounded in behavioural expectations and legal context.
- Impact and intent aren't always aligned. We shift the focus from "I didn't mean it" to understanding how intentions don’t excuse impact, closing the gap on misunderstandings.
- With practical scenarios (optionally with actors), participants practise how to address behaviour calmly, set boundaries, and redirect conversations before issues escalate.
- Navigating grey zones, like messaging apps, social media, and out of hours events, adds complexity. We explore how respect, dignity, authenticity, and personality can be compatible in every context.
- The session concludes with a shared set of "vocalised values" and actions that ensure the team stay inclusive, respectful, human, and safe for everyone.
Who it’s for
All staff and managers working in team-based or customer-facing environments.
Delivery
Short, focused workshops adapted to organisational context and scenarios.
Optional Extras
Behaviour standards and boundary guide
A short, plain-English reference that sets out agreed behavioural expectations, boundary examples and early intervention prompts, aligned to your organisation’s context.
Link-in to prevention pathways
A structured follow-on linking this session to Preventing Sexual Harassment, Everyday Inclusion & Belonging or Allyship & Upstander Skills for organisations wanting a preventative suite rather than a one-off session.
Micro pulse on behaviour and confidence to intervene
A short pulse diagnostic to check clarity on boundaries, confidence to intervene early and whether behaviour feels safer since the session.
Manager boundary reinforcement session
A focused session for managers on recognising early warning signs, stepping in proportionately and holding boundaries without escalating situations unnecessarily.
Frequently asked questions
Is this about stopping humour or policing language?
No. The focus is on clarity, not restriction. The session helps people understand where humour or familiarity can create risk, and how to keep interactions respectful and safe for everyone.
Will people be called out or made to feel uncomfortable?
No. The work is facilitated carefully using realistic scenarios, not personal examples. Participants will not be singled out or asked to share anything they don't want to share.
Does this cover bullying and harassment?
Yes. Clear, practical definitions of bullying and harassment are covered, grounded in everyday behaviour and workplace expectations.
Is this relevant if we already have a code of conduct?
Yes. This programme helps translate codes and policies into everyday behaviour, reducing ambiguity and inconsistent interpretation.
Is this suitable for frontline or operational teams?
Yes. The session is designed to work well in team-based, customer-facing and operational environments, with examples adapted to context.
How does this help managers?
Managers gain clarity on when and how to intervene early, set boundaries and prevent issues escalating into formal complaints.
Does this link to legal or compliance requirements?
Yes. Behavioural expectations are grounded in legal context, but the focus is on prevention and early action rather than legal training.
How practical is the session?
Very practical. Participants practise recognising boundary issues and responding calmly and proportionately in realistic scenarios.
Can this be tailored to our organisation?
Yes. Scenarios, language and emphasis are adapted to your organisational context and ways of working.