These are our expectations for event attendees, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior. Participation in our events and conferences requires and indicates understanding and acceptance of our conduct policy.
We maintain a strict policy prohibiting harassment on the basis of gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, skin color, religion, country of origin, sex, citizenship status, ancestry, age, physical or mental ability, medical condition, marital status, parental, pregnant, or breastfeeding status, participation or on any other basis prohibited by applicable laws.
This goes for all attendees, media, speakers, volunteers, organizers, venue staff, partners, sponsors, or exhibitors. Heavybit events are a place where people are free to fully express their identities in a respectful manner. Use your best judgement when it comes to determining what is and isn’t appropriate but also familiarize yourself with harassment defined.
- Embrace collaboration: We value a respectful and productive participatory environment, encourage questions, and do not assume that everyone has the same background or skill-set.
- Debate constructively: We challenge ideas and not people. This means we refrain from demeaning, discriminatory or harassing behavior and speech.
- Foster an inclusive environment: We actively make space in conversations for women, minorities and traditionally marginalized individuals to participate and we ask that our attendees, speakers and partners do the same.
- Act swiftly to correct bad behavior: If you see inappropriate behavior, regardless of your relationship to the event attendee or speaker, you are responsible for addressing it immediately in a direct, respectful and adult manner. This will ensure this behavior does not continue and negatively affect others in the community.
Informal Process:
- If you feel comfortable doing so, tell the person engaging in the harassing and/ or discriminating behavior that their actions are not welcome and that they must stop.
Formal Process:
- Report the incident verbally to a Heavybit staff member wearing an orange lanyard onsite and you’ll be directed to a Partner for more information.
- Please be prepared to offer as much information as possible, including the names of any potential witnesses.
- Your claim will be documented and tracked to ensure the quality of experience for future event-goers. We strive to keep such investigations confidential provided doing so will not compromise our ability to address the immediate issue.
- Heavybit will act swiftly to address the issue and will take any actions we deem appropriate to investigate and correct the situation including expelling the individual from the event without refund, banning them from subsequent events and in severe cases, calling on venue security for help.
Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If the issue is escalated to Heavybit staff, we will take any action we deem appropriate, up to and including expulsion from the event without warning or refund.
If you have questions, please contact event organizers directly at [email protected].
The above Code of Conduct may be revised at any time by Heavybit and is non-negotiable. This Code of Conduct is without prejudice to Heavybit’s rights, all of which it expressly reserves.