The Foretia Foundation believes that all employees should work in an environment that is free of harassment and discrimination. All employees have the duty to prevent harassment at the workplace.  Additionally, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a way that fosters a comfortable, professional, and respectful working atmosphere for other employees.

Harassment of any type, including harassment based on race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, caste, creed, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other protected status is a violation of foundation policy and is strictly prohibited.  Although the following types of specific behavior may not necessarily constitute harassment, behavior prohibited by the foundation policy includes, but is not limited to: slurs, graffiti, negative stereotyping, racial, ethnic or religious epithets, and written or graphic material or other forms of communication that show hostility to an individual or group.

Sexual harassment and other inappropriate conduct

One type of prohibited harassment is sexual harassment.  Sexual harassment can consist of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature or that is otherwise based on gender when:

–          Submission to the conduct is either explicitly or implicitly made a term or condition of an individual’s employment (i.e., continued employment, wages, evaluation, advancement, time off, assigned duties or shifts);

–          Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a component of the basis for employment decisions affecting that individual; or

–          The conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

The foundation policy prohibits any conduct that meets the above definition. Sexual harassment may be difficult to recognize in certain circumstances.  Although the following types of specific behavior may not necessarily constitute harassment, behavior prohibited by the foundation policy includes, but is not limited to: touching or grabbing a sexual part of any individual’s body; touching or grabbing any part of an individual’s body after that person has indicated or it is known that contact is unwelcome; continuing to ask a person on a date when that person has indicated that he or she is not interested; displaying or transmitting pornography; and using sexually vulgar or explicit language.

Procedures relating to violations of the foundation’s anti-harassment policy

If you believe that you or another person may have been subjected to harassment or discrimination or if you believe that the conduct of any person at the workplace violates any aspect of this policy, you are obligated to promptly report such conduct or statements to your immediate supervisor.

All reports of conduct violating this policy will be taken seriously and investigated promptly.  The foundation will protect the confidentiality of those involved to the extent that it is consistent with our need to investigate and address concerns or good faith reports of violations made under this policy.