It’s OK to Say

Last Updated 23 August 2022
It’s OK to Say
Downloadable assets

Campaign detail

The materials provided as part of the ‘It’s OK to Say’ education programme are intended to support organisations with educating staff on identifying and reporting unusual or concerning workplace behaviours, and in setting up mechanisms to promote the appropriate intervention. Education on these behaviours will help to build resilience to insider risks and a stronger security culture for the organisation and its people.

NPSA research and work with organisations has frequently highlighted the issue of under-reporting or a lack of intervention by employees when counter-productive and/or unusual behaviours are observed in the workplace. Such behaviours have often been seen to be pre-cursors to insider activity or welfare issues.

The programme has been developed on the basis of in-depth end-user research with large organisations across the critical national infrastructure and follows the principles of NPSA’s ‘Embedding security behaviours: the 5 Es’. A number of materials have been produced as part of this programme – organisations should take care to ascertain the pre-requisites before implementation in order to gain maximum impact. We would not, for example, recommend running the animation or video without setting the context of the threat.

Reporting on colleagues is a sensitive subject and it may be that your organisation needs to consider other initiatives before implementing this programme. Campaigns provided by NPSA include the Workplace Behaviours Campaign and the Line Managers Campaign. Both of these promote basic good security practices and how to implement them in the workplace.

In addition, the impact of the ‘It’s OK to Say’ programme may be improved when combined with products such as the Employee Assurance Tools and the Employee Vigilance materials. Please contact NPSA if you require further advice.

The campaign materials consist of the following:

  • Programme Overview – introduction and checklist for how to run the programme.
  • Detailed Guidance – step-by-step approach to planning, implementing and evaluating the programme.
  • A short video intended to raise awareness about concerning and unusual workplace behaviours and the importance of acting upon concerns.
  • 2 x 15 second clips to promote the It's OK to Say programme on intranets.
  • Training slides – a slide set for use when educating employees on the threat and the organisation’s intervention mechanisms, plus 6 short video clips that can be used as training aids.
  • A 3-minute animation – intended as a light-hearted warm-up to the topic, to be shown in the context of the serious messages of the programme.
  • Posters – each with space for organisations to add their own reporting mechanisms, and/or their own logos and the NPSA logo as appropriate. Additionally, there is one poster designed as an 'It's OK to Say' editable template for organisations to add their own choice of imagery to suit their specific circumstances.
  • Reminder cards – with space for organisations to add their own reporting mechanisms.
  • A selection of images and stills – intended for organisations to use on their intranet or on other communications that support the programme.

It's OK to Say video

IOTS high res version

View Video Transcript

AUDIO DESCRIPTION TRANSCRIPT:

[Audio description: Gentle piano music is playing in the background]

[Female v/o]

In your place of work, have you ever noticed someone acting in a concerning way or doing something they shouldn't?

Wondered if you should report it, but kept quiet to avoid causing problems or for some other reason?

Speaking up could keep you, your colleagues and your workplace secure and help people get the support they need.

So, trust your instincts if things don't seem ok. It's ok to say.

What are some of the signs to look out for?

[Text on screen]

Someone acting in a concerning way

[Female v/o]

Has a colleague seemed more angry, nervous, upset or anxious than usual?

Or in need of support?

[Audio description: we hear the faint cheers of a crowd at a horse race coming from the man’s phone. The gentle piano music continues]

Is anyone showing signs of concerning behaviour like drinking alcohol to excess using drugs or gambling?

[Audio description: we hear the man on screen typing on his laptop]

Have you noticed someone unexpectedly working later than usual or trying hard to be alone in the workplace?

Or has anyone been spending more money than they normally would or making sudden overseas trips, sometimes to unusual destinations?

Trust your instincts if things don't seem ok. It's ok to say.

[Text on screen]

Someone doing something they shouldn’t

[Female v/o]

Have you seen anyone looking around in or attempting to access unauthorized areas?

[Audio description: we hear the lady on screen taking a picture on her phone]

Has someone been trying to listen in to other people’s conversations?

Have you noticed anyone frequently leaving their computer unlocked when they shouldn't or attempting to view or access someone else's screen?

[Audio description: we hear the man on screen taking pictures on his phone and sharing them]

Or take photos of it, then share those images or any other information on social media against organisational policy?

Trust your instincts if things don't seem ok. It's ok to say.

Remember don't keep quiet, if in doubt tell someone in a position of authority so they can investigate it might be nothing, but it could be that someone has a welfare need, or it could be a security threat.

So, by speaking up you could be helping a colleague or preventing a disaster.

It's ok to say.

[Text on screen]

It’s ok to say

[Audio description: the piano music comes to a pause]

[Audio description: the piano music begins again]

[Female v/o & text on screen]

Spot the signs.

Alert someone

Your actions matter

[Female v/o]

They could help protect you, your colleagues and your organisation from harm.

[Female v/o]

To report concern

[Female v/o and text on screen]

Speak to your supervisor, team leader, line manager or senior manager.

If you have one, call your organisation’s anonymous reporting hotline or email your confidential reporting mailbox.

Report what you've seen to a security guard in your organisation.

If you’re a line manager, report it to your security team, HR team, welfare or vetting department

Or speak directly to the individual in question if safe and appropriate.

[Female v/o and text on screen]

Trust your instincts

[Female v/o]

If things don't seem okay

[Female v/o and text on screen]

It's okay to say

[CPNI Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure logo]

[Audio description: piano music comes to an end]

 

It's OK to Say animation

View Video Transcript

[Soundtrack based on Country and Western style. Singing:]

This lil’ song is here to instruct ya, ¬¬
To help you protect your infrastructure,
Help to keep your workplace safe and sound. 

‘Cause there’s times it’s right to spot some wrongs,
Your hunch may be true all along,
If you’ve seen folk noseyin’ around.

That guy with a rucksack by the lift, he
Don’t look familiar, looks kinda shifty
You don’t want to say, you don’t want to cause a scene 

Chorus:
It’s ok to say, it’s ok to say
It’s ok to say when somethin’s wrong
No-one’s going to mind, and if you don’t you’ll find
It could be Armaggedon ‘fore too long 

Bob’s not right, he seems real strange
He ain’t the same, there’s been a change
It could just be his life is in a mess

So try and keep your peepers open
To spot someone who just ain’t copin’
And someone could help ‘em through their stress

He’s takin’ pictures on his phone, 
Workin’ late, and’ all alone,
You coulda said but then thought what the heck

Who followed you right through the door?
Why, you sure ain’t seen her before
So tell someone so’s they can go and check.

Chorus:
It’s ok to say, it’s ok to say,
It’s ok to say when you’re in doubt.
Cause if you’re too polite, 

you could get real big a fright,
It’s much safer if somebody checks it out.

She’s fiddling with that guy’s PC
Sure looks mighty strange to me
But too late now ‘cause everyone’s infected.

He’s leakin’ stuff on social media?
And hat ain’t part of our procedure
Y’ shoulda said as soon as you’d suspected

So we’re asking you to keep alert ‘n
Check things out if you’re not certain
Chances are, it ain’t nothin’ at all.

You might be doin’ a friend a favour or
End up being the workplace saviour
If you simply make a little ol’ call.

It’s ok to say, it’s ok to say
It’s ok to say when you’re not sure
So get it off your chest, it’ll work out for the best
And folks they will thank you, forever more
It’s ok to say, it’s ok to say
It’s o….k to say…

These materials are UK Crown Copyright and are provided for organisations’ internal use only. For further information on the materials or to share feedback, please contact us via our enquiries form.