The Tidewater EMS Council is committed to an environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to work and participate as a member or volunteer of the Tidewater EMS Council and to participate in Tidewater EMS Council events or activities in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal opportunities and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, the Tidewater EMS Council expects that all relationships among persons, including staff, officers, directors, members, volunteers, and event attendees, are professional and free of bias, prejudice, bullying, and harassment.

This policy has been enacted by the Board to ensure that all management staff, officers, directors, volunteers, members, and event attendees can actively participate in Tidewater EMS Council’s activities in an environment free from unlawful harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other forms of inappropriate and/or offensive conduct. The Tidewater EMS Council Board of Directors will make every reasonable effort to ensure that all concerned are familiar with these policies and are aware that any complaint in violation of such policies will be investigated and resolved appropriately.

Any member of the Tidewater EMS Council’s management staff, officer, director, member, volunteer, or event attendee who has questions or concerns about these policies should talk with the Executive Director or Legal Counsel.

These policies should not, and may not, be used as a basis for excluding or separating individuals of a particular gender, or any other protected characteristic, from participating in any Tidewater EMS Council activities or programs. No one should engage in discrimination or exclusion to avoid allegations of harassment. The law and the policies of the Tidewater EMS Council strictly prohibit disparate treatment on the basis of sex or any other protected characteristic with regard to participation in governance, volunteer or member activities, or other events or conferences. The prohibitions against harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are intended to complement and further those policies, not to form the basis of an exception to them.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of the Tidewater EMS Council to ensure equal opportunity to participate as an officer, director, member, volunteer, or event attendee without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Tidewater EMS Council prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.

Retaliation

The Tidewater EMS Council encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination or harassment. It is the policy of the Tidewater EMS Council to investigate such reports promptly and thoroughly. The Tidewater EMS Council prohibits retaliation against any individual who in good faith reports discrimination or harassment or participates in an investigation of such reports.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment constitutes discrimination and is illegal under federal, state, and local laws. For the purposes of this policy, “sexual harassment” is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including when such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance or work as a volunteer or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or volunteer activity environment.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 recognizes two types of sexual harassment: a) quid pro quo, and b) hostile work or volunteer environment. Sexual harassment may include a range of subtle and not-so-subtle behaviors and may involve individuals of the same or different gender. These behaviors may include unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors; sexual jokes and innuendo; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; commentary about an individual’s body, sexual prowess, or sexual deficiencies; leering, whistling, or touching; insulting or obscene comments or gestures; and display in the workplace or at association events or meetings of sexually suggestive objects or pictures.

Harassment

Harassment on the basis of any other protected characteristic is also strictly prohibited. Under this policy, harassment is verbal, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law, or that of their relatives, friends, or associates, and that: a) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or volunteer environment, b) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or volunteer performance, c) adversely affects an individual’s employment or volunteer opportunities, or d) adversely affects an individual’s participation in a Tidewater EMS Council-sponsored event, activity, or conference.

Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs, or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts; denigrating jokes; and written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group.

Bullying

Aggressive behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort is prohibited as part of the Tidewater EMS Council’s Anti-Harassment Policy. Bullying can take the form of physical contact, words, or more subtle actions, such as making false statements or diminishing someone’s reputation. Cyberbullying is verbally threatening or harassing behavior conducted through electronic technology such as cell phones, email, social media, or text messaging.

Individuals and Conduct Covered

These policies apply to all staff, officers, directors, members, and non-members participating in any Tidewater EMS Council activities. Conduct prohibited by these policies is unacceptable in the association’s business, volunteer, or meeting environments.

Reporting an Incident of Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination, or Retaliation

The Tidewater EMS Council encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and bullying, regardless of the offender’s identity or position. Individuals who believe that they have been the victim of such conduct should discuss their concerns with the Tidewater EMS Council Executive Director.

In addition, the Tidewater EMS Council encourages individuals who believe they are being subjected to such conduct to promptly advise the offender that their behavior is unwelcome and request that it be discontinued. Often, this action alone will resolve the problem. However, the Tidewater EMS Council recognizes that an individual may prefer to pursue the matter through complaint procedures.

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