PURPOSE
London Health Sciences Foundation (Foundation) is dedicated to providing a positive, safe and harassment free environment for all Attendees (as defined herein) at our Events.
Individuals must conduct themselves respectfully and act in ways that are consistent with the London Health Sciences Foundation mission, vision, values and comply with Foundation policies.
PROCEDURE
All Attendees are required to adhere to the following Code of Conduct and should not engage in harassment in any form. This Code of Conduct may be revised at any time by the Foundation and the terms are non-negotiable.
By registering and/or attending a London Health Sciences Foundation Event indicates you are agreeing to this policy and its terms.
1.0 Event Attendees Code of Conduct Compliance
1.1 All event attendees are expected to behave in accordance with this Code of Conduct as well as London Health Sciences Foundation’s policies governing appropriate workplace behaviour and applicable laws.
2.0 Unacceptable Behaviours
2.1 Harassment, as defined herein, will not be tolerated in any form.
2.2 Individuals who participate in Events should conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is in accordance with both the letter and spirit of this policy prohibiting harassment and abusive behaviour whether before, during or after the event. This includes statements made in social media postings, on-line publications, text messages, and all forms of electronic communication.
3.0 Obligation to Report
3.1 Individuals have an obligation to report any activities perceived to be in conflict with these Standards or any other related policy. If you are being harassed, notice someone else being harassed, or have other concerns relating to harassment, please contact a member of the event staff immediately.
4.0 Managing Alcohol at Events
4.1 The Foundation ensures that all individuals serving alcohol at Foundation or Foundation sponsored functions are "Smart-Serve" certified. The Foundation may, in its sole discretion, refuse alcohol to anyone it deems intoxicated or in breach of this policy.
4.2 Attendees are encouraged to use designated drivers, taxi or other means of transportation when they have consumed alcohol.
5.0 Consequences of Unacceptable Behaviour
5.1 If an Attendee engages in harassing behaviour, the Foundation may take any action they deem appropriate depending on the circumstances. This can range from issuance of warning to the offending individual to expulsion from the Event, including future events, with no refund.
5.2 The Foundation reserves the right to exclude any Attendee to be found engaging in harassing behaviour from participating in any further Foundation Events or activities.
5.3 If a Attendee or individual wishing to participate in an Event, through postings on social media or other online forms of electronic communications, and engages in conduct that violates this policy, whether before, during or after an Event, the Foundation may take appropriate corrective action, which can include imposing temporary or permanent ban on an individual’s participation in future Foundation Events.
DEFINITIONS
Attendees is defined as a person who is present at a Foundation Event regardless of whether the person has purchased a ticket, registered as a guest or participant, donor, volunteer or supplier.
Event is defined as a Foundation hosted fundraising event for which there is an invitation or charge for admission to participate. It includes but not limited to Signature events, Community Events, Donor Cultivation and Recognition Events.
Harassment: Harassment means engaging in vexatious comments or conduct that humiliates, insults or degrades and is known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome, whether or not that effect was intended, that is related to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, age, citizenship, creed, record of offences, marital status, family status, disability, sex, pregnancy, same-sex partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Words or actions that disparage or cause humiliation to a person in relation to one of the prohibited grounds can occur in a variety of forms including inappropriate remarks, gestures, graphics or jokes. Behaviour giving rise to a complaint of harassment does not need to be intentional in order to be considered harassment. The key factor is how the recipient reasonably perceives the behaviour.
Some examples of harassment are:
- Objectionable remarks, innuendoes or taunting about a person in relation to her or his racial or ethnic background, colour, place of birth, religion, or any other prohibited grounds of discrimination;
- Displaying or transmitting material that is racist, derogatory or objectionable in relation to any of the prohibited grounds;
- Refusing to converse or work cooperatively with an employee because of racial or ethnic background or any of the other prohibited grounds of discrimination;
- Insulting gestures, graphics or jokes based on a person's sexual orientation or any prohibited grounds that cause embarrassment or discomfort.
Harassment may occur over one incident, or over a series of related or unrelated incidents.
Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is defined as one or more incidents, including a series of incidents, involving unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature including, but not limited to, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which is known or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome and when viewed objectively, might reasonably be expected to:
- Cause insecurity, discomfort, offence or humiliation to another person or group;
- Have or appear to have a job-related condition or promise associated with the person's submission to or rejection of such conduct, e.g. promotion, compensation, job security;
- Have the purpose or effect of interfering with a person's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.
Conduct which may constitute sexual harassment, include but are not limited to:
- Sexual remarks or jokes causing embarrassment or offence after the person making the joke has been informed that they are embarrassing or offensive, or that are by their nature clearly embarrassing or offensive;
- Sexually degrading words used to describe a person; Sexually suggestive or obscene comments or gestures;
- Leering, touching, advances, propositions or requests for sexual favors;
- Derogatory or degrading remarks, verbal abuse or threats directed towards members of one gender or regarding one's sexual orientation;
- Inquiries or comments about a person's sex life, sexual prowess or sexual deficiencies;
- The display or transmission of sexually suggestive material in the workplace, including any form of electronic transmission;
- Persistent unwanted contact or attention after the end of a consensual relationship;
- Comments which draw attention to a person's gender and have the effect of undermining such person's role in a professional or business environment.
Abusive: A general term for various behaviours which may be aggressive, coercive or controlling, destructive, harassing, intimidating, isolating, or threatening, that a batterer or abuser may use to control a person.
Stakeholders is defined as individuals who are not employed by the organization but perform specific tasks for the organization, including: Donors, Volunteers, Students, Contractors or contractors’ employees who may be members of a third-party contract or under direct contract to the organization, and individuals working at the organization, but funded through an external source.
Leadership is defined as a person holding a position in management within the Foundation.
Standards are rules or principles that provide guidance to appropriate behaviour and/or give direction or advice about a decision or course of action.