SempreFit policy on harassment and discrimination
The SempreFit meetings are intended to foster the exchange of scientific ideas and methods, allowing participants to present, share and collaborate on research findings, studies, and experiments, recruit people, and learn, teach, and network with an international community. SempreFit is committed to creating an environment where everyone can participate without harassment, discrimination, or violence. All meeting participants must be treated with respect and consideration. Registration for meetings is considered an agreement to abide by this code of conduct.
Harassment by any participant (attendee, speaker, volunteer, exhibitor, staff member, service provider, organizer, or meeting guest) will not be tolerated. Unacceptable behavior includes (but is not limited to) unwanted verbal attention, unwanted touching, sexual misconduct, intimidation, stalking, shaming, or bullying. Discrimination based of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, physical appearance, race, religion, national origin, or ethnicity will not be tolerated. Harassment presented in a joking manner is still harassment and constitutes unacceptable behavior. Retaliation for reporting harassment is also unacceptable, as is reporting an incident in bad faith.
Harassment in any form is incompatible with serving as an officer of SempreFit, and violating this policy by an officer of SempreFit will immediately terminate the such officer.
Incidents of harassment and discrimination are taken extremely seriously. People wishing to report a violation of this code of conduct should immediately contact a member of the Executive Committee or any member of the Board. Confidentiality will be maintained unless disclosure is legally required.
Establishing this code of conduct is intended to prevent incidents of harassment, discrimination, and violence, and to maintain the high quality of scientific discourse that our members expect and deserve from our meetings. SempreFit executive officers and members of the Board reserve the right to enforce this code of conduct in any manner deemed appropriate. Anyone violating the code of conduct may be: (a) asked to stop, (b) expelled from the meeting (without refund), and/or (c) prohibited from attending future meetings.
The acceptable behavior policy process
If you believe you have been subjected to or have otherwise experienced behavior at a SempreFit Meeting that violates the Associations’ Harassment and Discrimination Policy, please promptly report the issue so that steps may be taken to address the situation immediately. There are multiple methods you may use to report your concern. You may notify any member of the SempreFit Executive Committee or Board, each of whom has been requested to address the matter promptly. Suppose you are reluctant to speak with members of the Executive Committee or Board for any reason. In that case, you may notify the staff at the registration desk at the site, who has been instructed, like Executive Committee and Board.
The SempreFit will use its best efforts to investigate complaints fairly, discreetly and completely. We will make every reasonable effort to conduct a quick inquiry. The results typically will be shared with the individual reporting the issue and the individual(s) accused of violating the policy. Reports requesting anonymity will be respected, although SempreFit reserves the right to notify appropriate law enforcement should the allegations be severe enough to warrant such notice. Our ability to investigate or address anonymous reports may be limited or otherwise affected by the need to balance concerns over privacy and fairness to all concerned. Following completion of SempreFit’s inquiry, any action to be taken by SempreFit against the person accused of misbehaving will be determined by SempreFit in its sole discretion and may include a request for private or public apologies, discharge from the Meeting, Committee, or Board and restrictions on their future attendance.