CIISA launches behavioural standards for creative industries

A set of minimum standards for expected behaviour intended to foster safe and inclusive working across the UK’s creative industries has been launched by the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA).

Designed to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying and harassment, including behaviour of a discriminatory nature, the framework has been developed in collaboration with individuals and organisations across the creative industries.

The standards state that everyone working in the creative industries is entitled to a safe, professional and inclusive working environment, free from exposure to psychological, sexual and physical harm and to be treated fairly, without prejudice, at all stages of their career.

To achieve this, it says there must be active steps put in place to prevent discrimination and exclusion, including open and accountable reporting mechanisms.

“Everyone should feel confident that any concerns they raise will be taken seriously and resolved at the earliest opportunity,” says CIISA.

“They should know how to raise a concern, and be able to do this without fear of being victimised, silenced or experiencing adverse outcomes for their career.”

CIISA is also calling for responsive learning cultures to allow creative sector workers to see concerns raised as an opportunity not just to address harmful behaviour, but also to “capture learning and to act on it”.

Niyi Akeju, CIISA’s head of standards development, said she hopes the standards will be “a helpful reference” for anyone who experiences or receives reports of harmful behaviour, adding that going forward, CIISA plans to provide tailored, practical guidance and illustrative examples to support their application in real-life situations.

“Despite much work in this area, we know that bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment and behaviour of a discriminatory nature, remains prevalent in the creative industries,” said CIISA chair Baroness Helena Kennedy.

“Power imbalances, informal working practices and environments, and job insecurity are all contributing factors. The particular impact on freelance and self-employed members of our creative industries workforce is especially acute, so the need for CIISA is ever deeply felt.

“So these standards represent a landmark moment, to provide consistency and coherence to what can be a challenging environment to navigate in terms of what constitutes harmful behaviour within the creative industries and how this can be prevented and dealt with.”