Communities Anti-Harassment Policy - Updated 4/14/2020
This policy supplements the D.C. Bar’s Anti-Harassment Policy for employees.
The D.C. Bar Communities Office takes reasonable measures to provide a safe environment for all volunteers and program participants. Each individual has the right to a professional atmosphere free of harassment. This policy covers individuals who participate in or attend Communities-sponsored activities, including, but not limited to, volunteers, consultants, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and visitors. This policy applies not only to events or activities in the D.C. Bar Building but also to offsite locations such as law firms, courthouses, government buildings, and other venues where D.C. Bar Communities sanctioned work, events, programs, or receptions take place.
Prohibited Conduct
The Bar does not tolerate workplace violence or harassment. D.C. Communities volunteers and program participants are prohibited from making threats or engaging in any form of violent activity.
The list below, while not inclusive, provides examples of prohibited conduct:
- Causing physical injury to, or engaging in unwanted touching of an employee’s body;
- Making threatening remarks and/or verbally abusing others;
- Engaging in aggressive or hostile behavior that creates a reasonable fear of injury to another person, or subjects another individual to emotional distress;
- Intentionally damaging property of the Bar or one of its employees;
- Possessing a weapon while on Bar property or on Bar business;
- Committing acts that threaten, intimidate, or coerce an employee, volunteer, program participant, or a member of the public at any time, including off-duty periods where the employee is a representative of the Bar, and all acts of harassment.
The D.C. Bar Communities Office also recognizes that harassment may occur between people of the same sex and/or gender and does not distinguish between the sex and/or gender of the alleged abuser and victim when conduct is unwanted and unwelcome by the person against whom the conduct is directed.
Reporting and Investigations
Any individual who believes they have been subjected to conduct that violates this policy should immediately report the incident to D.C. Bar HR director via D.C. Bar staff person (i.e. Director, Communities Likewise, any individual who witnesses conduct that violates this policy should immediately contact a D.C. Bar staff person.
The Bar will investigate complaints and will maintain confidentiality during such investigations to the extent possible. The Bar may put reasonable interim measures in place while the investigation proceeds, such as removing the accused individual from the premises and/or requiring the individual to remain off premises or refrain from attending Communities events pending the outcome of an investigation. Program participants and volunteers determined to have engaged in prohibited conduct may be barred from attending current or future Communities programs, held either at the D.C. Bar Building or offsite locations, for a period of time as determined by the Bar. In addition, volunteer steering committee leaders who are determined to have engaged in prohibited conduct may be asked by the Bar President, CEO, or Director of Communities to resign their term immediately or at the end of the current year, per section E (8), pg. 6 of the Communities Policies and Procedures.
No Retaliation
The Bar does not allow retaliation of any kind, and no employee, program participants, or volunteers will be retaliated against for making a complaint or assisting with the investigation of a complaint. No employee, program participant, or volunteer may treat another employee, program participant, or volunteer adversely who reports harassment, assists in making a complaint, cooperates in an investigation, or files an administrative claim with the EEOC or a state governmental agency. All employees, program participants, or volunteers who experience or witness retaliatory conduct should report it immediately.
Acknowledgment
This acknowledges that I have read, understood, and agree to adhere by the D.C. Bar Communities Office’s Harassment policy. I understand that if I have questions regarding the contents of this policy, I should ask the Staff Attorney for Member and Policy or Director of Communities for clarification.