Active Education Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy
June 1. 2023
The full-time staff, part-time staff, and Interns at Active Education are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.
Active Education’s diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces: Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees. Teamwork and employee participation, permit the representation of all groups and employee perspectives. Work/life balance through flexible work schedules to accommodate employees’ varying needs. Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity.
All employees & Interns of Active Education have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All employees are expected to exhibit conduct that reflects inclusion during work, at work functions on or off the work site, and at all other company-sponsored and participative events. All full-time & part-time employees are also required to attend and complete annual diversity awareness training to enhance their knowledge to fulfill this responsibility.
Any employee found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to disciplinary action. This policy outlines our commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, and sets out our expectations for employees and Interns. It is intended to provide guidance on how we will prevent and respond to incidents of discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
Scope:
This policy applies to all Full-time, Part-time employees & International Interns.
Recruitment: Active Education is committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are fair and free from discrimination. We will advertise all job vacancies widely and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We will assess candidates solely on their skills, experience, and qualifications, and will not discriminate on any other grounds.
Equal Opportunities
Active Education is committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees and Interns. We will not discriminate against anyone on the grounds of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will ensure that all employees and Interns are treated fairly and with respect and that they are given equal opportunities to develop their skills and progress in their careers.
Diversity and Inclusion:
Active Education values diversity and inclusion and recognizes that people from different backgrounds bring different perspectives, skills, and experiences to our organization. We will actively seek to create an environment that is inclusive and welcoming for all employees and Interns. We will provide training and support to help all employees and Interns understand the importance of diversity and inclusion and how they can contribute to creating an inclusive workplace.
Harassment and Discrimination
Active Education prohibits all forms of unlawful harassment and discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, military service and/or veteran status; mental or physical disability, genetic information, medical conditions as defined under State and Federal Law, or any other basis protected by law. Active Education will not tolerate unlawful harassment based on any category protected by law, whether by or toward a supervisor, subordinate or co-worker.
This policy applies to all Active Education Corporate, Hybrid, Remote, telecommuter employees & International Interns. Active Education will not tolerate sexual harassment from outside the company either. Customers, investors, contractors, and everyone interacting with our Company are covered by this policy.
Active Education's policy against harassment prohibits disrespectful or unprofessional conduct based on a protected category. Examples of such conduct which may violate this policy include, but are not limited to, verbal abuse of a racially derogatory nature; the use of racial or religious slurs; racially or ethnically disparaging words used to describe an individual; racial, religious, or other derogatory jokes, e-mails, screensavers, written materials, drawings, or cartoons; and the unwelcome physical touching of others.
Active Education’s policy against harassment includes a prohibition on sexual harassment, including verbal, non-verbal and physical conduct. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, including unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where:
submission to such conduct is made an express or implied term or condition of employment;
submission to or rejection of such conduct forms the basis for employment decisions; or
such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with work performance or creating an intimidating hostile or offensive working environment.
This definition includes many forms of offensive behavior. It is important to note that sexual harassment does not need to be motivated by sexual desire and is unlawful regardless of the motivation. No employee or Intern of the Company has the authority to condition any employment term, condition or benefit upon either the granting of sexual favors or on tolerating unwelcome sexual conduct or any other conduct prohibited by this policy. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to:
Offering employment benefits such as favorable assignments, reviews, promotions, or the like, in exchange for sexual favors.
Denying or threatening to deny employment benefits for rejecting sexual advances.
Unwanted sexual advances, propositions, flirtations or repeated unwanted requests for or efforts to make social contact.
Verbal conduct of a sexual or gender-based nature, such as using sexually degrading, vulgar or discriminatory words to describe an individual, making comments about an individual’s body, discussing sexual activity, or making derogatory sexual, gender-related or discriminatory comments, slurs, taunts, jokes, or epithets.
Non-verbal conduct of a sexual or gender-based nature, such as whistling, unwelcome staring, leering, displaying sexually suggestive, gender-based objects, pictures, posters or cartoons, making sexual, derogatory, obscene or discriminatory gestures, or giving, sending or circulating sexual, derogatory, obscene or discriminatory letters, e-mail messages, voice mail messages, gifts, notes or invitations.
Unwelcome physical conduct of a sexual or gender-based nature, such as touching, patting, pinching, brushing the body, or impeding or blocking an individual's movement.
Retaliating or threatening retaliation for protesting about sexually harassing or gender-based conduct or for making a complaint about such behavior.
The above list is not all-inclusive or exhaustive but is intended to illustrate some of the types of conduct that are inappropriate.
Managing Incidents
Active Education will not tolerate any form of discriminatory behavior or action, including harassment, bullying, victimization, or any other form of unfair treatment. We encourage all employees and international interns to report any incidents or allegations of discriminatory behavior or action, and we will investigate all reports promptly and thoroughly. Active Education will take appropriate action to address any issues that are identified, and we will support anyone who has been the victim of discriminatory behavior or action. All complaints will be treated confidentially, and employees and Interns are protected from retaliation for reporting incidents of discrimination or harassment. We take all complaints seriously any employee or Intern found to have engaged in discriminatory behavior or harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Reporting Incidents
Any employee or intern who experiences or witnesses discriminatory behavior or harassment should report the incident immediately to Lee Hartley or to Katherine Hughes (Operations Department for Full-time / Part-time staff). If an employee or intern feels uncomfortable reporting the incident to their supervisor, they may report it to any member of the Human Resources Department. Grievance Procedure: A grievance form is available upon request to document all the information you can, such as the names of individuals involved, the names of any witnesses, direct quotations when language is relevant, and any documentary evidence.
Active Education will take prompt and discrete steps to investigate concerns regarding prohibited harassment and discrimination and, where appropriate, take prompt appropriate corrective action. Appropriate action will also be taken to deter any future unlawful harassment.
Any company supervisor or manager who becomes aware of any possible sexual or other unlawful harassment must immediately advise HR to initiate an investigation of the matter. Active Education will handle reports of such alleged misconduct with sensitivity to concerns for confidentiality, reputation, and privacy, as is practicable.
We cannot help you with issues relating to unlawful harassment unless we know about them. Therefore, it is extremely important that you immediately bring these issues to our attention so that we can take the necessary steps to address the situation.
Do not assume that the company is aware that there may be a problem. We very strongly encourage any employee or intern who has concerns regarding unlawful harassment, who believes he or she is the victim of harassment, or who believes he or she has witnessed harassment to bring his or her concerns to any supervisor or HR.
It is the responsibility of every employee and intern of the company to follow this policy conscientiously. Violation of this policy may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment.
Conclusion
At Active Education, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion throughout all aspects of our organization. We believe that our employees and interns should be valued and respected regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other personal characteristic. Our aim is to create a workplace culture that is inclusive and welcoming for everyone, and where all individuals can thrive and succeed.