New Designated Contact People

Sixteen staff members who recently volunteered to take on the role of the Designated Contact Person attended a two-day course in ESB Head Office.

Well-known Equality and Diversity consultant Maire Halpin facilitated the training on behalf of the Equal Opportunities Office.

The Designated Contact People carry out a very useful and often unnoticed role in ESB. The role goes back to 1998 when ESB first introduced a comprehensive Bullying and Harassment Policy issued to all staff. The policy was recently re-drafted and the updated policy 'Respect and Dignity for the Individual in ESB' which included the Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment policies again issued to all staff in December 2004.

An integral part of ESB policy is to have designated contact people at local level available to staff who can be contacted if an individual has a problem or wants to clarify something in relation to the policy. The DCP role is one of support, not representation. A DCP can advise a person about his / her options under the policy and may, if requested, accompany a person through an investigation process.

To date we have over 80 Designated Contact People at various locations throughout the company who carry out this important role. All staff nominated as DCPs must do an initial two-day training course and this is followed up with an annual refresher course.

A confidential survey carried out in 2004 found that 206 staff members contacted the DCPs between 1999 and 2004. Out of these 206 contacts, 125 people dealt with the issue themselves after talking to a DCP, thus emphasising the effectiveness of the DCP's role in supporting ESB's policy on 'Respect and Dignity for the Individual in ESB.'