Driver Anti-discrimination And Anti-harassment Policy

1. Purpose

Ola aims to provide an environment where drivers, customers and the public are treated fairly and with respect, and are free from unlawful discrimination, harassment and vilification.

2. Application of policy

This policy applies to:

  • All registered Ola drivers (collectively referred to as ‘drivers’);
  • Any interactions or locations where drivers may be working, interacting with Ola employees or representing Ola for example, when driving a customer, visiting an Ola office location or interacting with a potential customer in representation of Ola (collectively referred to as ‘representing Ola’)

3. Zero tolerance by Ola

  • In the representation of Ola, Ola will not tolerate discrimination, vilification, sexual harassment, bullying and victimisation of drivers, customers or others.

4. Discrimination

  • Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than another because of a reason or ground which is prohibited by law. The prohibited grounds of discrimination are set out in the Federal, State and Territory anti-discrimination laws and include sex, race, age, disability/impairment etc.

5. Vilification

  • Vilification is a public act which incites hatred, severe contempt or severe ridicule of a person or group, because of race, homosexuality, transgender, transsexuality or HIV/AIDS. Vilification is a particularly serious breach of Ola’s policies and will be dealt with accordingly.

6. Sexual harassment

  • Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. Conduct can amount to sexual harassment even if the person did not intend to offend, humiliate or intimidate the other person. However, conduct will not be sexual harassment if a reasonable person, having regard to all the circumstances, would not have anticipated that the conduct would offend, humiliate or intimidate the other person
  • Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
    • physical contact such as pinching, touching, grabbing, kissing or hugging
    • staring or leering at a person or at parts of their body
    • sexual jokes or comments
    • requests for sexual favours
    • sexually explicit conversations
    • displays of offensive material such as posters, screen savers, internet material etc
    • suggestive comments about a person’s body or appearance

7. Bullying

  • Bullying is repeated, unreasonable and inappropriate behaviour directed towards an individual or group, which creates a risk to health and safety.
  • Please refer to the Ola Driver Bullying Policy for more information

8. Victimisation

  • Victimisation is where a person is retaliated against or subjected to a detriment because they have lodged a complaint, they intend to lodge a complaint or they are involved in a complaint of unlawful conduct.

9. Rights and responsibilities

  • All drivers representing Ola must:
    • understand and comply with this policy;
    • ensure they do not engage in any unlawful conduct toward customers, other drivers, Ola employees or others during their representation of Ola;
    • ensure they do not aid, abet or encourage other persons to engage in unlawful conduct;
    • Make a report to the Driver Care Team if they experience any unlawful conduct;
  • Ola drivers should be aware that they can be held legally responsible for their unlawful conduct.

10. Breach of this Policy

  • All drivers are required to comply with this policy at all times. If a driver breaches this policy, they may be subject to penalty including temporary or permanent removal from the Ola app. In serious cases Ola may report the matter to the police.
  • If a driver makes an unfounded complaint or a false complaint in bad faith (e.g. making up a complaint to get someone else in trouble or making a complaint where there is no foundation for the complaint), that driver may be temporarily or permanently removed from the Ola app.

Variations

Ola reserves the right to vary, replace or terminate this policy from time to time.