Discrimination and Harassment
ASHRAE strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against members or applicants for membership because of such individual’s race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, uniformed service member status, or any other category protected under applicable law. ASHRAE also prohibits unlawful harassment based on any of the aforementioned legally protected categories. Examples of prohibited harassment include, but are not limited to, abusive language, slurs, jokes, or other verbal or physical conduct relating to an individual’s membership in a legally protected category.
Sexual Harassment
While all forms of unlawful harassment are prohibited, sexual harassment merits special attention. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature, including slurs, threats, derogatory comments and unwelcome jokes and teasing, where:
- submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s association with ASHRAE;
- submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for decisions adversely affecting such individual; or
- such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance of services for ASHRAE, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
An intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment may be created by such circumstances as pressure for sexual activities, unwanted and unnecessary physical contact with another member, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, the inappropriate use of sexually explicit or offensive language in discussions with, or to describe, an individual, or the display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures. Conduct prohibited by this policy includes many forms of offensive behavior and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex.
Complaint Procedure
Any member who believes that he or she has witnessed or been subjected to discrimination or harassment in violation of this policy must immediately report the matter in writing to ASHRAE’s Executive Vice President. ASHRAE will promptly and thoroughly investigate the report and take corrective action, if appropriate. Allegations involving alleged conduct by ASHRAE employees will be investigated in accordance with ASHRAE’s internal human resources policies and procedures. Allegations involving alleged conduct by ASHRAE members will be investigated in accordance with the Enforcement Procedures for Violation of the ASHRAE Code of Ethics (the “Enforcement Procedures”). Any member found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from membership in accordance with the Enforcement Procedures and ASHRAE’s Bylaws.
Protection Against Retaliation
Retaliation is prohibited against any person who, in good faith, opposes any unlawful harassment or discrimination, brings a complaint of harassment or discrimination to ASHRAE’s attention, or who testifies, assists, or participates in any proceeding involving a complaint of harassment or discrimination of which ASHRAE is aware. However, anyone who knowingly makes a false claim or knowingly provides false information in the course of an investigation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion from membership. The complaint procedure set forth above also applies to any complaints of retaliation in violation of this policy.