Code of Conduct

TL;DR

Learners is committed, first and foremost, to building a safe and accessible community. That’s why we will not tolerate harassment of any kind in Learners spaces.

We ask that you report any incident you think may violate our Code of Conduct to hello@joinlearners.com.

Why do we have a Code of Conduct?

We believe that learning should be fun, frequent, and affordable for all. It’s not enough to create a home for growing tech workers, if that home isn’t as welcoming as we strive to be.

We’re committed to building a community that is accessible and safe, regardless of identity, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, neurotype, origin, faith, ability, socioeconomic status, age, and community.

This starts with our Code of Conduct and the expectation that those who participate in our community and events will help us create a safe, inclusive, hostility-free culture we can all enjoy together.

Who does the Code of Conduct apply to?

Our Code of Conduct applies to everyone working with Learners or taking part in any Learners event, virtual or in-person. This includes Learners employees first and foremost—but also to contractors, volunteers, speakers, attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and vendors.

We are all accountable for how we treat one another.

Behaviour we will not tolerate

Learners will not tolerate harassment under any circumstances, whether the behaviour is direct or indirect. We do not tolerate hatred or bigotry in our spaces, whether in-person or through any of our channels. Harassment includes but is not limited to:

Unwanted physical contact or simulated physical contact
Unwelcome verbal or written comment or physical conduct that is so objectively offensive that it creates a hostile environment
Unwanted sexual attention
One-on-one communication after a request to stop
Publication of non-harassing private communication
Violence and/or intimidation
Any aggressive or offensive commentary based on one’s identity, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, neurotype, physical appearance, origin, faith, ability, socioeconomic status, age, or community
Unwanted photography, videography, and recording
Micro-aggressions: small comments or questions, either intentional or unintentional, that marginalize people by communicating hostile, derogatory, or negative beliefs

Consequences for Violating the Code of Conduct

For violating the Code of Conduct:

Your messages may be deleted from in—conference chats or on any of our Learners properties
You may be muted or blocked and no longer able to use in-conference chats or leave messages on any of our Learners properties
You may be temporarily or permanently removed from any of our Learners properties, such as the Learners platform or the Research by Learners community Slack, as well as any of our in—person events without refund

If you suspect you were wrongfully accused of violating the Code of Conduct, please reach out to hello@joinlearners.com.

Report a violation to our Code of Conduct

If you witness or experience any behaviour that goes against our Code of Conduct, please contact us at hello@joinlearners.com.

Note: this email is only staffed during regular business hours and may not be suitable for urgent/time-sensitive matters. If you are experiencing an emergency, please contact the appropriate authorities.

If there’s anything we can do to support you in making your report, let us know. We will listen to you, and work with you to resolve the situation in the way that’s most comfortable for you.

We will make every reasonable effort to maintain the confidentiality of your report. When appropriate, we are prepared to involve third parties, including but not limited to security services and law enforcement.

If you do not feel comfortable contacting the organizers for help, we encourage you to contact someone you trust, or the aforementioned third parties directly.

If you are unsure if you have witnessed or experienced any behaviour that goes against our Code of Conduct, we encourage you to report the incident. You are important to us. You make our community better. We would rather get a few extra reports rather than missing a report of an actual violation.

No retaliation

You have the right to come forward about any unacceptable behaviour without fear of retaliation.

We prohibit any retaliation against anyone who comes forward with a report or who participates in an investigation regarding violations of our Code of Conduct. Those who do not comply with our Code of Conduct in good faith can expect appropriate action to be taken by Learners, which may include conflict mediation, close-monitoring, ejection from gatherings or community platforms without refund, a temporary or permanent ban from all future events, or involvement of security staff or law enforcement.

If your report is against a member of our team, that team member will not take part in handling your report. Other members of our team will respond as promptly as they can.