The Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards Corporation (WAMI) is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals involved in its activities are treated with respect and dignity. This includes Board members, staff, volunteers, guests, and any other participants in WAMI events and programs.
To ensure a welcoming and harassment-free environment for all, WAMI has adopted this Anti-Harassment Policy. This policy prohibits harassment, intimidation, bias, prejudice, and other hostile behaviors.
Definitions
- Discrimination: Any verbal, nonverbal, visual, or physical conduct, action, or inaction based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
- Harassment: Unwelcome conduct that undermines participant relationships and creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Harassment includes Discrimination and may also include, but is not limited to:
- Verbal harassment: Epithets, slurs, derogatory remarks, offensive jokes, or any other verbal conduct that denigrates or shows hostility toward another participant.
- Nonverbal harassment: Gestures, leering, intimidation, or any other nonverbal conduct that creates a hostile or offensive environment.
- Visual harassment: Displaying offensive images, symbols, or written materials.
Physical harassment: Unwanted physical contact, assault, or any other physical conduct that creates a hostile or offensive environment.
- Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s participation in WAMI activities.
- Such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
- Sexual Harassment may include, but is not limited to:
- Unwanted sexual advances or propositions.
- Requests for sexual favors.
- Verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.
- Offensive jokes or comments of a sexual nature.
- Displaying sexually suggestive objects or pictures.
- Inappropriate touching, leering, or gesturing.
Sexual Harassment can occur between individuals of the same or different genders. It does not need to be explicitly sexual in nature; any harassment based on gender may constitute Sexual Harassment. For example, derogatory or stereotypical comments about a particular gender may be considered Sexual Harassment.
Policy Statement
This policy applies to all WAMI participants, including Board members, staff, volunteers, guests, and anyone participating in WAMI events and programs.
WAMI prohibits Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Harassment in any form. This includes unwelcome behaviors not explicitly defined in this policy. Such conduct will not be tolerated at any WAMI meeting, event, or sponsored activity, regardless of location (in person, online, or otherwise).
Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Harassment can occur even without intent. It is crucial to be mindful of the feelings and sensitivities of others when interacting with WAMI participants. An individual may experience behavior as discriminatory or harassing even if they are not the intended target. The perception of the individual experiencing the behavior will be given primary consideration.
This policy should not be used to exclude or separate individuals based on any protected characteristic. WAMI participants may not engage in any form of exclusion to avoid allegations of Discrimination or Harassment.
Reporting Procedures
Any WAMI participant who has questions, concerns, or complaints about this policy, or who believes they have experienced or witnessed prohibited conduct, should report the matter in writing to the WAMI President. If the participant feels uncomfortable reporting to the President for any reason, they may report to the WAMI Vice President.
WAMI encourages prompt reporting of all complaints and concerns to facilitate swift resolution. Individuals who believe they are being subjected to prohibited conduct are also encouraged to directly inform the offender that their behavior is unwelcome and request that it stop. While this may resolve the issue, WAMI recognizes that individuals may still wish to pursue a formal complaint.
All reported allegations will be promptly investigated. WAMI will maintain confidentiality for all complainants and witnesses to the extent possible throughout the investigation. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the complainant will receive a written response detailing the findings and any actions taken.
Sanctions and Retaliation
WAMI reserves the right to respond to complaints as deemed appropriate by a majority vote of its Board of Directors, considering the nature of the complaint and the investigation’s findings. If a Board member is the subject of a complaint, that member will be recused from any related investigation or vote.
Possible sanctions for individuals found to have violated this policy include, but are not limited to:
- Removal from the WAMI Board of Directors or any other position within WAMI.
- Termination of WAMI membership.
- Prohibition from participating in future WAMI events, including, but not limited to, attending events, serving on committees, and being included in current or future nominations or award recipients.
- Referral for civil or criminal process.
Retaliation against any individual for reporting a violation of this policy or participating in an investigation is strictly prohibited and will result in sanctions. False or malicious complaints (as distinguished from good-faith complaints) may also be subject to sanctions.