The Temple of Witchcraft is committed to an environment and community in which all individuals are treated with dignity. Therefore, the Temple and its leadership expects all relationships among persons working for the Temple in any capacity and in service to the community will be business-like and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment, and encourages such behavior among Temple members in the spirit of Love, Will, and Wisdom.
It is the policy of the Temple of Witchcraft to ensure equal opportunity for all without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other such characteristic protected by law. The Temple of Witchcraft prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.
The Temple has developed this policy to create a safe and respectful community. The Temple of Witchcraft will make every reasonable effort to ensure all concerned are familiar with these policies and aware that any complaint in violation of these policies will be investigated and resolved appropriately.
Any Temple member, volunteer, or employee who has questions or concerns about these policies should speak with a member of the Temple’s board of directors, particularly the board member responsible for overseeing the employee or volunteer’s associated ministry, or may contact the board via email at [email protected].
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 Temple-related social activities or discussions. In other words, no one should make the mistake of engaging in discrimination or exclusion in order to avoid allegations of harassment. The policies of the Temple prohibit disparate treatment on the basis of sex, gender, orientation or any other protected characteristic, with regard to terms, conditions, privileges, and perquisites of employment or volunteer positions. 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.
Harassment
Harassment of Temple members or guests by Temple members or guests is strictly prohibited. Under this policy, “harassment” is verbal, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of their 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 relations, friends or associates, and that: a) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or learning environment, b) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or study performance, or c) otherwise adversely affects an individual’s opportunities for employment or volunteering within the Temple.
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 placed in view in Temple controlled space or circulated using Temple resources such as email, phone (including voice messages), text messages, social networking, or other means.
Sexual Harassment
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 when, for example: a) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment status, student status, or volunteer status, b) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting such an individual’s status, or c) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment. The Temple extends this definition to volunteer positions as well as enrollment or involvement in the Temple’s Mystery School as a teacher, teaching assistant, mentor, or student.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 recognizes two types of sexual harassment: a) quid pro quo and b) hostile work environment. Sexual harassment may include a range of subtle and not-so-subtle behaviors and may involve individuals of any gender. Depending on the circumstances, 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; display in the workplace of sexually suggestive objects or images; and other physical, verbal, or visual conduct of a sexual nature.
Individuals and Conduct Covered
These policies apply to all Temple members, whether related to conduct engaged in by fellow Temple members, or towards someone not directly connected to the Temple, such as an outside vendor, consultant, or guest, and to all persons, both Temple members and guests, at or involved with Temple-sponsored events.
Conduct prohibited by these policies is unacceptable in Temple-controlled space and in any Temple-related setting outside those spaces, such as during trips, retreats, or meetings on Temple business, as well as in social networking or online spaces controlled by the Temple.
Reporting
The Temple of Witchcraft encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, regardless of the offender’s identity or position. Individuals who believe that they have been targets of such conduct should discuss their concerns with a Temple lead minister or member of the board of directors. If neither is available, they should seek out the most senior Temple member available and ask that their complaint be reported to a lead minister or board member as soon as possible. See the Complaint Procedure (following).
The Temple of Witchcraft encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of harassment. It is the policy of the Temple to promptly and thoroughly investigate all such reports. The Temple of Witchcraft prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination or harassment or participates in an investigation of such reports.
In addition, the Temple of Witchcraft encourages individuals who believe they are being subjected to such conduct to promptly advise the offender that their behavior is not welcome and request that it be discontinued. The Temple likewise encourages witness to such conduct to call it out and advise the offender that it is not welcome. Often this action alone will resolve the problem. The Temple of Witchcraft recognizes, however, that an individual may prefer to pursue the matter through complaint procedures, rather than or in addition to confronting an offender directly.
Complaint Procedure
Individuals who believe they have been the victims of conduct prohibited by this policy or believe they have witnessed such conduct should discuss their concerns with their immediate supervisor, a Temple lead minister, or a member of the board of directors. All Temple volunteers and officers in receipt of such a complaint should bring the matter to the attention of the Temple board of directors as soon as possible, either in person or in writing (via email at [email protected]).
The Temple wishes to protect the privacy and anonymity of those who report incidents of harassment as much as possible, but requires sufficient detailed information for a complaint to be considered actionable. Such information may include (but is not limited to) the date, time, and place where the reported incident took place, a description of what was said and done by those involved, the names of those involved or who may be witnesses to the incident, or any records (written or in any media) of the reported incident. A complaint lacking these details shall not be considered actionable by the Temple and will be kept on-file for future reference, but no further action can or will be taken.
The Temple encourages the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns so that rapid and corrective action can be taken. Therefore, while no fixed reporting period has been established, early reporting and intervention have proven to be the most effective method of resolving actual or perceived incidents of harassment, and it is encouraged.
If the Temple board of directors feels a complaint report involves a crime (such as assault), the matter will be referred to the proper legal authorities in addition to the Temple conducting its own investigation. The Temple will cooperate fully with any investigation carried out by the authorities of an alleged crime by any Temple member, as required by law.
Any actionable reported allegations of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation will be investigated promptly. The investigation may include individual interviews with the parties involved and, where necessary, with individuals who may have observed the alleged conduct or may have other relevant knowledge.
The Temple of Witchcraft will maintain confidentiality throughout the investigatory process to the extent consistent with actionability, adequate investigation, and appropriate corrective action.
Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or discrimination or for participating in an investigation of a claim of harassment or discrimination is a serious violation of this policy and, like harassment or discrimination itself, will be subject to corrective action. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be promptly investigated and addressed.
False and malicious complaints of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation (as opposed to complaints that, even if erroneous or non-actionable, are made in good faith) are prohibited and may also be the subject of appropriate corrective action.
Resolution
If the board’s investigation finds misconduct constituting harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, it will be dealt with appropriately. Corrective action may include, for example, training, referral to counseling, or disciplinary action such as a warning, reprimand, reassignment, temporary suspension, or loss of position within the organization, as The Temple of Witchcraft’s board of directors believes appropriate under the circumstances.
If a party to a complaint does not agree with its resolution, that party may appeal to The Temple of Witchcraft’s board of directors and ask for a mediated discussion of the resolution.