This policy is designed to clearly communicate our standards of behavior for our members. We are committed to having an inclusive community embracing different perspectives and viewpoints. And we are equally dedicated to providing a safe and productive experience for everyone who participates in our community and to treating everyone with respect. That means that misconduct, including but not limited to harassment in any form, will not be tolerated. Members violating these standards will loose their membership without a refund, and access to our community and our services. Our policy is as follows:
Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors at our events and online community.
- Sexual harassment – which includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment also can occur when a member is subjected to discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, or insult by another member that is sufficiently severe or pervasive that it creates an abusive environment, or an environment where the member feels uncomfortable.
- Harassing, physically threatening, or physically or verbally abusing any person because of, but not limited to, that person’s race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, native language, political party affiliation, or viewpoint.
- Conducting oneself in a manner endangering the health or safety of another person.
- Exhibiting disorderly conduct, including but not limited to, abuse of controlled substances or overt drunkenness.
- Defacing property.
- Failing to respect the confidentiality of sensitive information obtained in the course of the member’s professional engagements.
- Making intentionally false communications, either written, spoken, or posted on any social media, that harms a member’s or the organization’s reputation.
- Stealing or using any property or content (including digital) belonging to another member or the association.
Reporting misconduct
The safety, well-being and professional reputations of our members and participants is of the utmost importance. If someone engages in behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, you are urged to address the situation.
If you feel comfortable doing so, you are encouraged to first speak to the person directly, asking them to cease the misconduct. If you are not comfortable confronting the person directly or if the misconduct continues, you are urged to report the behavior to the Design Leadership Community Team or mail us directly.
Unlawful actions will be addressed to the local authorities.
What do we do if someone reports a harassment or violation
If a report is received, it should include
- Contact information for the notifier
- Names of others involved (if you know about them)
- When and where it happened
- What happened
- Other relevant information
- Is it over or is it going on?
If an oral report is received
- Just take in the story, do not judge the content
- Write down the information
- Decide whether to write a report
If it happened at an event arranged by our community
- Listen to the person remotely
- The person may be traumatized
- Take it easy and let the person rest and relax, drink water if they want
Acting by the board
- Confirm that we have received the notification
- Gather the information
- Estimate the degree of impact and risk of continued harassment
- Are there more affected people?
- Is there a risk of recurrence?
- Does the person need care of any kind?
- How risky is it if it happens again?
- Estimate the resources needed
- Deal with the problem
- Contact the registered person
- Explain that a report has been made on the person based on the Code of Conduct
- When and where it was reported
- An overall description of the event (do not mention the name of the notifier)
- Tell the consequences
- Tell us our expectations of the person
- Follow up with exposed person / s
- Choose a fair answer / action (based on DLC values)
- Reduce threats of revenge (both individuals and groups)
- Do not share information that could identify people
- Document in detail and action
- Follow up with the board and perhaps also within the community
- What happened?
- How did it go?
- Is there something that is not resolved?
- Is there anything we should do differently if it happens again?
