Guidelines to Prevent Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination at The B Team Events

 

The B Team is committed to enabling events at which everyone can participate in an inclusive, respectful and safe environment. Our events are guided by the highest ethical and professional standards, and all participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect towards all participants attending or involved with any The B Team event. 

 

These Safeguarding Guidelines were last updated on August 19, 2022.

 

Applicability 

These Guidelines apply to any The B Team event, including meetings, conferences, assemblies, receptions, workshops, side events and any other forum, which are fully or collaboratively organized, hosted or sponsored by The B Team, at any location. 

 

These Guidelines apply to: participants, staff, Leaders, contractors, co-hosts or any other person involved in any capacity at an The B Team event. These Guidelines supplement, and do not affect, the application of other relevant policies, regulations, rules and procedures, including any applicable host country agreements. 

 

These Guidelines should be communicated in advance of each The B Team event to all event participants. At the time of registration or invitation participants should be informed and be provided access to the Guidelines. Copies of the Guidelines may also be made available at The B Team event. 

 

Unacceptable conduct 

Harassment in any form, including sexual harassment and discrimination, constitutes unacceptable conduct and is not tolerated at The B Team events. Harassment is any behavior, in relation to the work context, including The B Team events, that a participant knew, or reasonably ought to have known, would be unwelcome or unacceptable, and which negatively interferes or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work (event) environment. 

 

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation. Sexual harassment may involve any conduct of a verbal, non-verbal or physical nature, including written and electronic communications, and may occur between persons of the same or different genders. 

 

Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to: 

• Making derogatory or demeaning comments about someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity; 

• Name-calling or using slurs with a gender/sexual connotation; 

• Making sexual comments about appearance, clothing or body parts; 

• Repeatedly asking a person for dates or asking for sex; 

• Sharing sexual or lewd anecdotes or jokes; 

• Sending sexually suggestive communications in any format; 

• Sharing or displaying sexually inappropriate images or videos in any format; and

• Attempted or actual sexual assault, including rape. 

 

Discrimination of people based on one or more characteristics such as ethnic, social or political background, color, race, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, ethnicity, nationality, age, religion, marital status, family size or any other identity is unacceptable conduct and is not tolerated at The B Team events. 

 

Reporting unacceptable conduct 

The B Team will ensure that concerns or allegations are taken seriously, investigated and acted on as appropriate.

A participant who feels that he/she has been a victim of harassment or discrimination at a B Team event, or who has witnessed such, may take the following actions: 

• Request that the perpetrator immediately stop the unacceptable conduct. 

• Promptly report the matter to The B Team Ethics Office (confidential email address: ethicsoffice@bteam.org) The B Team’s FD monitors this inbox. If the concern involves the FD, or there is another reason why this is not appropriate, you should go directly to the CEO. 

• Reach out to the event organizer who may request that the perpetrator immediately stop the unacceptable conduct, and suspend or terminate the perpetrator’s access to The B Team event. 

 

No representative of The B Team will prejudice their own position or standing by responsibly reporting potential or suspected abuse.

 

However, knowingly making a false or misleading report is likewise considered unacceptable conduct and may lead to the suspension of the participant’s access to The B Team events or, in the case of The B Team staff or contractors, disciplinary or other measures as per the applicable contract. 

 

For The B Team events that take place outside of our premises, and for which we may not be the main organizer or sponsor, The B Team will ensure that these Guidelines are forwarded to the entity co-organizing or co-sponsoring the event and coordinate with the other organizers or sponsors with a view to ensuring the application and distribution, as appropriate, of these Guidelines. 

 

Protection from retaliation 

Threats or other forms of intimidation or retaliation against a participant who has made a report of unacceptable conduct or provided information in support of a report of unacceptable conduct is not tolerated. The B Team will take any reasonable appropriate action needed to prevent and respond to intimidation or retaliation in accordance with its applicable procedures. 

The B Team Whistleblower Protection Procedures can be found here.