Anti-Harassement Policy
Rotary District 5300 is committed to an environment free of harassment. Rotary District 5300 does not condone sexual harassment and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religious creed, color, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation.
Prohibited harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following behavior:
- Verbal conduct such as epithets, derogatory jokes or comments, slurs or unwanted sexual advances, invitations or comments;
- Bullying, such as the activity of repeated, aggressive behavior intended to hurt another individual physically, mentally, or emotionally;
- Visual displays such as derogatory and/or sexually-oriented posters, photography, cartoons, drawings or gestures;
- Physical conduct including assault, unwanted touching, intentionally blocking normal movement or interfering with work because of sex, race, or any other protected basis;
- Threats and demands to submit to sexual requests as a condition of continued employment, or to avoid some other loss, and offers of employment benefits in return for sexual favors; and
- Retaliation for reporting or threatening to report harassment.
Any person believing that he, she, or anyone else has been harassed in violation of this policy should submit a written complaint to the Club President or the Club’s designated investigative officer as soon as possible after the incident. The complaint should include details of the incident or incidents, names of the individuals involved, and names of any witnesses. All harassment complaints submitted to the current Club President or an investigative officer of the Club should immediately be the subject of an effective, thorough, and objective investigation of the harassment allegations by the Club.
If the Club’s Board of Directors determines that harassment has occurred, the Club should take effective remedial action appropriate to the circumstances involved, including, when appropriate, suspension or expulsion of the member as a Rotarian in the Club; provided that any such action shall be taken in conformity with the requirements of the Rotary International Manual of Procedure and the Club’s Constitution and Bylaws, as in effect at the time of the alleged harassment.
Should the Club be unable to resolve an allegation of harassment and the Club’s Board of Directors requests the District to intervene, or if the District Governor deems it necessary for the District to intervene, a Rotary District 5300 representative may, at the option of the District Governor or other person or persons designated by the District Governor, intervene, investigate, and advise all parties concerned of the results of the investigation. In such cases, the District Governor or the District Governor’s designee may take remedial action as appropriate to the circumstances involved, including suspension or expulsion of the Rotarian from the Club or the District, or both, or referral of the matter back to the Club for appropriate disposition in conformity with the requirements of the Rotary International Manual of Procedure and the Club’s Constitution and Bylaws, as in effect at the time of the alleged harassment. If the District Governor or the District Governor’s designee does not render a decision within 20 working days from the time the allegation of harassment was taken under consideration, the issue is automatically referred back to the club board without recommendation.
Rotary District 5300 will not retaliate against any member for filing a complaint and will not tolerate or permit retaliation by the Club or other Rotarians. Strict confidentiality is expected from all parties involved.
Rotary District 5300 encourages all members to report any incidents of harassment forbidden by this policy immediately to their Club President or investigative officer so that complaints can be quickly and fairly resolved.