It’s OK to Say

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

It's OK to Say animation

[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 email [email protected]npsa.gov.uk.