Office Standards Policy

The Office of Ed Miliband MP

Office Standards Policy
As the elected Member of Parliament for Doncaster North, I am proud to represent over 71,000 constituents. My small but dedicated team works hard to support as many people as possible, as quickly and effectively as we can.
We understand that constituents may approach us during times of distress. While we aim to treat every individual with empathy and respect, we must also ensure a safe and productive working environment for our staff. This policy outlines the standards of behaviour expected when engaging with our office.

Unacceptable Behaviour
We will not tolerate:
• Aggressive, abusive, or threatening language or actions
• Discriminatory remarks (e.g. racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic)
• Shouting, swearing, or inflammatory accusations without evidence
• Harassment, including publishing staff details or recordings online
Any behaviour that causes staff to feel unsafe or intimidated may result in the conversation being ended and, if necessary, reported to the Police.

Unreasonable Demands & Contact
We reserve the right to manage:
• Excessive or repeated contact (calls, emails, visits)
• Demands that prevent staff from assisting other constituents
• Refusal to cooperate with reasonable requests for information
• Attempts to bypass procedures or insist on specific staff members
We aim to be fair and consistent in our approach, but we must also protect staff time and wellbeing to ensure we can serve all constituents effectively.

Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to accessibility and will consider reasonable adjustments to help constituents communicate effectively with our office. These may include:
• Alternative communication formats
• Translations or large print materials
• Clear warnings before ending unproductive conversations
• Prior approval for recording telephone calls
Please note: adjustments do not excuse abusive or disruptive behaviour. Staff reserve the right to end a call that is being recorded without their consent.

Actions We May Take
In response to unacceptable conduct, we may:
• Issue a warning and request a change in behaviour
• Appointing a single point of contact for the constituent
• Request that all communication be in writing or via a representative
• Report the matter to the police
• Restrict or limit contact
• Cease all communication with a constituent
• Decline to investigate a complaint
• Block telephone numbers or email addresses

A record of such actions will be kept by the office for future reference.