Code of Conduct for Live and Virtual Conference and Events

ASLA is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture within our profession, where membership, leadership, staff, partners, volunteers, and other supporters can connect, learn, and grow. The ASLA Code of Conduct for Live and Virtual Events emphasizes the importance of treating all participants with dignity and respect, prohibiting unacceptable behaviors such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination based on various identities. It provides examples of unacceptable conduct and outlines procedures for reporting such behaviors, ensuring confidentiality and prompt responses. Consequences for failing to comply with requests to stop unacceptable behavior include possible removal from the conference without warning or refund.

Unacceptable Behavior:

Participants should treat people fairly, with dignity and respect and should not engage in, or condone bullying behavior, harassment, sexual harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to:

•    Physical or verbal abuse of any participant

•    Unwelcome or offensive verbal comments or exclusionary behavior related to age, appearance or body size, employment or military status, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, individual lifestyle, marital status, national origin, physical or cognitive ability, political affiliation, sexual.

•    Inappropriate physical contact

•    Unwanted sexual attention

•    Use of sexual or discriminatory images in public, in digital spaces or in presentations

•    Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following

•    Harassing photography or recording, including taking photographs or recording of another individual’s oral presentation without the explicit permission of that individual and of ASLA

•    Sustained disruption of talks or other events

•    Bullying behavior

•    Retaliation for reporting unacceptable behavior

Reporting Unacceptable Behavior

If you are the subject of unacceptable behavior, have witnessed any such behavior, or have other concerns, please notify an ASLA staff member as soon as possible and he/she will work with appropriate ASLA leadership to resolve the situation. You may also file a complaint by emailing [email protected] (you must specify ‘ASLA’ in report). All reports will be treated seriously and responded to promptly.

Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent that it does not compromise the rights of others.

Consequences

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated at live or virtual meetings or related events, whether by participants, media, speakers, volunteers, organizers, sponsors or exhibitors.

We expect all event participants (staff, sponsors, volunteers, and speakers) to abide by this code of conduct at all live and virtual meeting events. ASLA, in its discretion, may bar those who violate this Code from continued participation in or attendance at some or all ASLA events (live or virtual), without refund of any fees paid. ASLA may also in appropriate circumstance bar violators of this Code from participation or attendance at future ASLA-sponsored events and may also notify the individual’s employer of ASLA’s finding of a violation. ASLA will also report on the outcome of any investigation to individuals who have reported a violation of this Code of Conduct for Live and Virtual Conferences and Events.

Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. Event participants must also cooperate with any ASLA investigation into reports of a violation of this Code of Conduct by providing information requested by ASLA that is relevant to ASLA’s investigation.

Adopted by the Executive Committee – March 2025