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Everyone at Axelerant has a responsibility to ensure is responsible for ensuring a safe space to engage with each other. Working remotely means that most of our interactions are by via video call and written communication, such as email or shared documents, except for team summits, attending conferences together, and local team . Yet we also have gatherings for teams and local meetups. No matter the communication method, it everyone is expected that everyone will to contribute to an inclusive, collaborative working environment while respecting each other at all times.

When you become aware of or witness any prevention of a safe space , general harassment, or violation of Being Axelerant, please report the incident to the People Operations representative immediately per Reporting Violations belowconcern, immediately report it.

Perspective

Axelerant wants team members to feel confident, comfortable, and safe in communicating their concerns. Axelerant respects, appreciates, and supports every aspect of diversity as we continuously foster a globally aware team.

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This policy applies to all team members employed by any entity of Axelerant, whether contractor or employee, in all locations. There are local Local labor laws in every country , and for some states , that must be followed when handling, reporting, and investigating incidents of harassment. The People Operations team and relevant legal counsel , when required, will ensure compliance that with appropriate local legal processes and procedures are followedwhen required. All Axelerant team members will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for any act of harassment they commit.

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Anti-Safe Space

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Sexual Harassment

See Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Policy.

Discrimination

Any form of discrimination towards any individual is strictly prohibited. Types of discrimination may include:

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Age

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Disability

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Gender

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Life expectancy

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Race; including color, nationality, ethnic or national origin

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Religious belief or lack thereof

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Sexual orientation

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Behaviors

Axelerant feels that a safe space should be in person and online, regardless of location–work, home, or elsewhere. Therefore, anti-safe space communications between team members are not private.

Bullying & Workplace Violence

Axelerant does not tolerate violent acts or threats of violence. The company We will not tolerate accept fighting, bullying, coercion, or use of abusive or threatening words directed to, about, or against a co-worker, lead, manager, executive, candidate, client/customer, or vendor. No Axelerant team member should commit or threaten to commit any violent act or discuss committing such offenses, even in a joking manner.

Retaliation

Retaliation .

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is any form of harassment or bullying that occurs online or through electronic devices. It can happen in many states (including through social media platforms, texts, apps, and emails) and includes behavior such as posting inappropriate pictures, sending offensive messages or threats, or threatening to reveal personal information online.

Any form of behavior leading to cyberbullying is strictly prohibited. A few of such behaviors are:

  • Creating derogatory websites that mock, torment, and harass the intended victim.

  • Cyber bashing or flaming: Attacking an individual with belligerent or denigrating language.

    • E.g., Insults, bigotry, or other hostile expressions.

  • Cyber smearing: Creating, posting, or distributing sensitive, private, or embarrassing information or images, including doctored images.

  • Cyberstalking: Online harassment that includes intimidation or threats of harm.

  • Derogatory rating aspects of an individual on a rating site.

    • E.g., appearance, character.

  • Exclusion: Deliberately leaving specific individuals out of online social exchanges.

    • E.g., Instant messaging or email conversations.

  • Impersonating someone or creating a false identity to deceive another individual.

    • E.g., Catfishing.

  • Online harassment: Repeatedly sending offensive messages to an individual.

  • Rumour spreading.

  • Teasing, belittling, or name-calling.

Discrimination

Any form of discrimination towards any individual is strictly prohibited. Types of discrimination may include:

  • Age

  • Disability

  • Gender

  • Life expectancy

  • Race; including color, nationality, ethnic or national origin

  • Religious belief or lack thereof

  • Sexual orientation

  • Slander

Inappropriate Touch

Only the upper arm area away from the body, from the shoulder top to the elbow tip, of a person, is considered the safe zone to touch a person without permission using fingertips or an open palm.

Any other place or using a grabbing motion is considered unsafe.

Additionally, obtain verbal or non-verbal acceptance before hugging a person.

Retaliation

Axelerant will not tolerate retaliation of any sort for filing a claim of harassment will not be toleratedharassment.

Sexual Harassment

If the harassment is sexual, the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Policy is followed. The aggrieved person would be using the PoSH form for raising the complaint. When in doubt, you can reach out to any member of the ICC team for a consultation.

Speaking Up

When people believe they have been the target or witness safe space violations concerns of any kind, they're encouraged to immediately and directly address the harasser, letting them know that their behavior is unwelcome or offensive and must stop immediately. Speaking up creates an opportunity in which allows all parties can to learn from and promote understanding. Further, the harming source person can de-escalate the situation by apologizing and resolving the problem without escalation.

While speaking up may not remove all consequences, it does significantly reduce reduces the chance of escalation and has the potential to can potentially return team members to a comfortable and inclusive environment.

Reporting

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Concerns

When speaking up fails or isn't feasible in a harassment situation, please contact a People Operations representative within three months (3fill out the Safe Space Concern form within ninety days (90) of the incident to investigate the behavior.begin an investigation.

We will only share information with the Safe Space Committee.

Safe Space Committee

The Safe Space Committee comprises a People Operations representative, the Director of Coaching, and other relevant representatives.

Investigation Process

All complaints or concerns about safe space

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concerns or discrimination will be taken seriously and handled confidentially.

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The Safe Space Committee will investigate the written complaint received to validate the

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concerns before involving consequences for the reported people.

  • After receiving the complaint, the People Operations Representative will contact the complainant for the reported people.

The Role of People Operations

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Exploring informal means of resolving potential safe space violations when verbal complaints than formal, written objections are made.

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Ensuring that people filing a complaint and any accused persons are made aware of the misconduct's seriousness.

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  • the first call to assess the situation and provide interim options to help the complainant feel safe and heard.

    • Interim measures could include any or all of the following:

      • Immediate paid leave of 2-5 days considering the severity of the situation

      • The committee should assess separating the involved parties from current work efforts.

      • When the respondent is their direct manager, a skip-level manager will conduct any appraisals/performance reviews to ensure an unbiased review. 

  • The inquiry may include the following process.

    • Review any proof shared by the complainant. E.g., photos, video media, screenshots, etc.

    • Reach out to witnesses mentioned by the complainant via email or other archivable means.

    • Setting up calls with the parties involved within ten days of receiving such a complaint.

    • When there is a failure to attend a hearing before the Safe Space Committee by the complainant or the respondent on 3 (three) consecutive known dates, the committee may terminate the investigation or provide an ex-parte decision with 15 (fifteen) days' notice.

    • The Safe Space Committee shall complete the inquiry process within 90 (ninety) days from the date of receipt of the complaint.

    • After an unbiased investigation, the executive team will make a final decision based on the Safe Space Committee's suggestion for the People Operations representative to inform the respondent.

Protection for Complainant and Alleged party

Axelerant will protect safe space concern complainant and alleged identities plus situational details by keeping such information private.

Axelerant is committed to ensuring that no team member bringing forward a safe space concern is subject to reprisal. Any reprisal will be subject to disciplinary action.

Whoever abuses the safe space concern procedure (e.g., by maliciously putting an allegation knowing it to be untrue or producing any forged or misleading document) will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including termination.

The Role of the Safe Space Committee

  1. Ensuring that all complaints about safe space concerns are filed by the complaint via the Safe Space Concern form within ninety days (90) of the incident to begin an investigation.

  2. Explaining Axelerant's Safe Space guidance and investigation procedures to all complaint stakeholders.

  3. Arrange for an immediate investigation of misconduct.

  4. Make recommendations for remediation to executive decision makers.

  5. Prepare The Safe Space Committee will prepare a written report summarizing the results of the investigation.Make recommendations for remediation to designated company officialsinvestigation results.

  6. Notifying appropriate authorities (police, country-specific bureaus) when criminal activities are reported.

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When managers become aware of a safe space violation, they must act quickly, confidentially, and somewhat with any allegations, whether a written or formal complaint made to People Operations. Managers concern managers are expected to:

  1. Take all complaints or concerns of safe space violations seriously.Report violations immediately to People Operationsconcerns seriously.

  2. Empower the complainant to report the safe space concern.

    1. When the complainant chooses not to report the concern, the manager submits the safe space concern on behalf of the complainant, regardless of consent.

  3. Take appropriate action based on committee recommendations to prevent retaliation or misconduct from recurring.

Managers who knowingly allow or tolerate any form of safe space violation concern or retaliation, including failing to ensure the failure to report of such misconduct to People Operations immediately, violate this policy and are subject to disciplinary action, including termination.

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  1. Being aware of how their behavior may affect others and changing it if necessary.

  2. Treating their colleagues with dignity and respect.

  3. Taking a stand if they think inappropriate jokes or comments are being made to others.

  4. Making it clear to others where they find their behavior unacceptable.

  5. Intervening, when When possible, intervene to stop safe space violations concerns or bullying from occurring.

  6. Reporting promptly to their manager or the People Operations department Safe Space Committee any witnessed bullying or safe space violationsconcerns.

The Role of Executive Decision Makers

The CEO/CXO will make a final decision based on the Safe Space Committee's suggestion. Based on the decision, necessary disciplinary actions will be initiated against the alleged party.

Disciplinary Actions

All team members will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for any act of safe space violations concerns they are confirmed to have committed. Although disciplinary action will be specific to each case, it can generally be classified into four levels mentioned below. Actual disciplinary actions are suggested by leadership and peer-based committee the Safe Space Committee and finalized by the executive team in line with https://axelerant.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AH/pages/1751974104/Prevention+of+Sexual+Harassment+POSH+Policy#4.0-Procedures-%26-Guidelines.

Possible consequences include:

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Withhold promotion/appraisal

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Suspension of 1-2 month salary

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Detraction of benefits for a definite or indefinite time

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Level 1

E.g., First-time low-impact occurrences of inappropriate behavior or an act out of character moment. After a formal investigation, team members still feel comfortable working with the instigator.

  • 31-days week unpaid suspension

  • Formal apology towards inflicted parties

  • Warning letter

Level 2

E.g., First-time high-impact or recurring, within 1-year, socially inappropriate behavior.

  • 2- to 4-weeks unpaid suspension

  • Relevant Training & Guidance, paid for by Axelerant.

    on paid for by Axelerant
    • .

  • Formal apology towards inflicted parties

  • Warning letter

  • Potential transfer to another team

  • Potential of termination3-month work avoidance between relevant team members

Level 3

E.g., Major infractions, including retaliation , or recurring, within 1-one year, socially inappropriate behavior after a warning letter.

  • Termination of contract

Level 4

E.g., Serious cases, including criminal offenses.

  • Termination of contract

  • Reported to the police or other relevant authorities

Training & Guidance

Training and guidance by Learning & Development team and others for understanding, preventing, and overcoming safe space violations concerns will be provided to team members as part of situational resolutions.

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