Code of Conduct

All participants are expected to be considerate, respectful, and collaborative, and to refrain from any demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior. If anyone witnesses or experiences unacceptable behaviour, they should alert Calgary UX staff as soon as possible.

Any reports will be kept confidential and Calgary UX staff will take appropriate action to ensure that everyone feels safe. This code of conduct also applies to online interactions and social media. Calgary UX reserves the right to investigate and address any incidents that violate these principles, even if they occur outside of Calgary UX events or if legal proceedings are pending.

Our common goal is to preserve our guiding principles and create a positive experience for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation

We expect all Participants to abide by this Code of Conduct at all Calgary UX venues and Calgary UX-related social events. Participants seek to learn, network, and have fun. Please do so responsibly and with respect for the right of others to do likewise.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a friendly, safe, and welcoming conference environment.

Calgary UX believes our community should be truly open for everyone. As such, we are committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all attendees, sponsors, volunteers, speakers, organizers, venue staff, media, exhibitors, vendors and other guests (collectively, “Participants”) of the Calgary UX meetup group free from discrimination for any reason including on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, age and religion.

We invite all Participants to help us realise a safe and positive conference experience for everyone. The Code of Conduct exists to set general notice of prohibited conduct, should be read broadly and is not designed to define misconduct in exhaustive terms. Everyone must know and abide by the Code of Conduct and all published policies and procedures. Ignorance of the code will not be an excuse.

Expected Behaviour

All Participants are expected to: be considerate, respectful, and collaborative; refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behaviour or speech; be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow Participants – your fellow Participants may have a different level of comfort with respect to language and personal space; please alert Calgary UX staff if you notice a dangerous situation or someone in distress.

The Calgary UX Code of Conduct values and policies is also enforceable for incidents outside of Calgary UX activities; this includes incidents that happen before the initiation or after the completion of any Calgary UX event, online interactions between members and social media.

 

Unacceptable Behaviour

Unacceptable behaviours include: intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning conduct; offensive verbal comments including as related to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, age, or religion; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces (including presentation slides); deliberate intimidation, stalking or following; harassing photography or recording; sustained disruption of talks or other events; inappropriate physical contact; and unwelcome sexual attention. Some Calgary UX venues are shared with members of the public; please be respectful to all patrons of these locations.

The following criteria will be used to determine if an incident that happens outside of the community will be considered an alleged violation of the Code of Conduct and Ruling Principles:

  • When others recognized the incident as being carried out by a Calgary UX member.
  • When the incident adversely impacted a Calgary UX member’s mental, emotional, or physical health, safety, and/or security.
  • When the incident adversely impacted the Ruling principles.
  • Whether the incident was a violation of federal or state laws or regulations or local ordinances.
  • When the incidents affect a community partner member.

 

Consequences of Unacceptable Behaviour

Calgary UX reserves the right to investigate and initiate the resolution process regardless of the prospect of pending civil or criminal proceedings. Calgary UX resolution process differs from legal proceedings in that the goal is to preserve our ruling principles and show zero tolerance to any grave incident. Calgary UX may move forward to resolution prior to, simultaneously with, or following criminal or civil proceedings. The resolution of an alleged violation will not change because a civil or criminal case has been resolved via dismissal, settlement, or reduction.

If someone brings concerning behaviour to our attention, the leadership team will work to determine if the behaviour may be a violation of the Code of Conduct and Ruling Principles. Unacceptable behaviour by Participants will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behaviour is expected to comply immediately.

When deciding the appropriate action to take, we consider the severity of the incident, additional information (such as past behavioural history), and any additional context we may have. If it is determined that there is an unintentional violation, we will notify the accused, meet with them, gather information about the incident(s), and work to prevent reoccurrence. Actions taken to avoid future occurrences may be educational (such as a success plan) or may include measures up to the withdrawal. If there are clear indications of predatory behaviour, the individual will be immediately expelled from the community, and no further investigation is needed.

 

What to Do If You Witness or Are Subject to Unacceptable Behaviour

If you are subject to unacceptable behaviour, notice that someone else is being subject to unacceptable behaviour, or have concerns that this Code of Conduct is not being followed, notify a Calgary UX staff person as soon as possible. All reports will remain completely confidential. Calgary UX staff will determine and carry out the appropriate course of action, and will be available to help Participants experiencing unacceptable behaviour feel safe for the duration of the conference.

Members who believe they have been discriminated against or subjected to harassment should communicate to the leadership as soon as possible.Complaints will be handled confidentially unless making this information public prevents other incidents, and the affected member allows it.

Of course, if you are ever uncomfortable interacting as a community member, please let us know by submitting a report using this form, email or direct message to the community leader on Slack.

 

No Retaliation

Calgary UX prohibits retaliation against any person because of that person’s good-faith participation in the reporting, investigation, or resolution of any alleged violation of the Code of Conduct and Ruling Principles. Retaliation can be physical, verbal, via a third party, or electronic means (in public or private forums) and may include, but is not limited to: harassment, intimidation, threats, or adverse actions against a Fellow, staff member or guest.Retaliation will result in immediate removal from the program.

 

Resolution Process

Suppose a community member is found to be responsible for a violation of the Ruling Principles. In that case, Code of Conduct, or other published policies, will be notified of the decision and any resulting outcomes up to, but not limited to, being removed from the community.

Calgary UX reserves the right to immediately remove a community member from the program without notice or opportunity for a hearing for disruptive behaviour and/or not in line with our mission, values and goals.

 

Community Environment

The community’s most important is building and maintaining a strong, supportive, positive environment that leads to successful outcomes for members. We take this job very seriously. Any activity (creating distractions, bullying, harassment, etc.) that negatively impacts the community environment will result in being removed from the community.

 

 

Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment

We aim to create an environment of mutual trust without intimidation, oppression, and exploitation. We all should be able to work and learn in a safe yet stimulating atmosphere. Calgary UX prohibits unlawful discrimination against and harassment of any individual, community or organization.

We will not tolerate any form of harassment generally, and in particular, that is unwelcome and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive; causes reasonable fear for safety; and/or interferes with or limits employment, education, or ability to participate in or benefit from programs, activities, or resources.

This includes but is not limited to the following:

Discrimination under this policy is conduct directed at an individual or group of individuals. Such as race, colour, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, gender, marital status, age, disability status, or any other status protected by law that subjects the individual or group of individuals to different treatment to adversely affect the individual’s or group of individuals.

Harassment

Harassment is conduct directed at an individual or group of individuals because of their race, colour, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, gender, marital status, age, disability status, genetic information or any other status protected by law that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual or group of individuals employment or fellowship experience or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Harassment includes any verbal, physical, or online conduct and includes, but is not limited to: slurs, epithets, or other threatening, intimidating, hostile, or abusive treatment directed at an individual or group of individuals as defined above.

To constitute a hostile environment, the harassment must be sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to create an environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile, or abusive.

A single incident may create a hostile environment if it is sufficiently severe. Additionally, while a single incident may not be classified as a hostile environment, the incident will be addressed, so it is not repeated.

Property and Resources

A Calgary UX member should not take, attempt to take, keep in their possession, sell, or attempt to sell, damage or destroy property (intellectual or physical), information, services, or accounts belonging to the community, community partners or individuals.

If the community does not return, or misuses, improperly share, or pirate property, or violate their privacy rights (for example, by recording conversations without notice, whether online or offline), the community member may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including legal action and removal from the community.

Physical or Psychological Harm, Threat or Actual

Includes behaviour that is threatening and/or intimidating or harassing in nature and expresses or implies interference with personal safety, education, employment, or participation in activities, resources, or that causes the person(s) to have reasonable fear that such behaviour is about to occur.

Any act or series of acts of physical, social, or emotional domination or intimidation, commonly referred to as “bullying,” that causes fear of or physical or psychological harm and/or interferes with employment, education, or ability to participate in or benefit from events, activities, or resources.

Important note: In Calgary UX, we encourage critical thought, discourse, and feedback. None of the above is to discourage criticism of the program itself, the policies, actions of the Calgary UX leadership team, or any other component of the community. We value feedback and welcome it anytime. We hold our community to high standards and expect event participants, members, partnered communities and organizations, and guests to engage with each other professionally.

In the spirit of praise publicly and critique privately, we ask that you not criticize any member of the Calgary UX community publicly and contribute to creating a respectful and welcoming environment for all.

Creative Integrity

Calgary UX expects members to understand and maintain high standards of integrity. Breaches of integrity include, but are not limited to, inappropriate collaboration, intellectual property, including copyright infringement, or acts of bad faith.

Online communication

Professionalism is expected when creating and joining Slack channels, RSVP for events, participating in academic and social discussions, and via posts, comments, questions, and responses to others.

The creation of Slack channels is encouraged only when there is no existing channel covering the topic/interest.

The naming of channels and content within is expected to be professional and in line with the policies and procedures found in the Code of Conduct. Any channel names or content that does not abide by the Code of Conduct will be reviewed and handled accordingly.

Calgary UX reserves the right to delete Slack channels and content (posts, threads, questions, comments, and responses) that are not aligned with our Ruling Principles and/or Code of Conduct.

Additionally, inappropriate behaviour on Slack, Zoom and other platforms includes, but is not limited to:

Calling attention to all community members using the @channel/@here function without explicit permission@’ing, and/or otherwise harassing, bullying, being disrespectful, inappropriate, or unprofessionally calling out individuals, whether in private communication channels such as Slack or on public platforms such as Twitter.Failing to follow the leadership team’s or guests’ directions (for example, continuing to post when directed not to).Being disrespectful towards others.Being a disruption to the community.Spamming or using channels or DMs for excessive solicitation/marketing or personal gainMisuse of channels – using channels for something other than the intended purpose.

Violations on Slack, Zoom, and/or other platforms may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to removal from Slack, Meetup and any venue where a community event is scheduled.

 

Updated version: Dec 19, 2022

 

 

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