ALASKA ROCK GYM
SEXUAL ABUSE, HARASSMENT AND MISCONDUCT POLICY
The Alaska Rock Gym prohibits and does not tolerate sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual misconduct in the workplace or during any organization-related activity. The Alaska Rock Gym provides procedures for employees, volunteers, board members or any other victims of sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct to report such acts. Those reasonably suspected or believed to have committed sexual abuse or misconduct will be appropriately disciplined, up to and including termination of employment or membership, as well as criminally prosecuted. No employee, volunteer, board member or other person, regardless of his or her title or position has the authority to commit or allow sexual abuse or misconduct.
Definitions and Examples: The following definitions or examples of sexual abuse, misconduct, or harassment, may apply to any and/or all of the following people – employees, volunteers or other third parties. Sexual abuse or misconduct may include, but is not limited to:
- Child sexual abuse – any sexual activity, involvement or attempt of sexual contact with a person who is a minor (under 18 years old) where consent is not or cannot be given.
- Sexual activity with another who is legally incompetent or otherwise unable to give consent.
- Physical assaults or violence, such as rape, sexual battery, abuse, molestation, or any attempt to commit such acts.
- Unwanted and intentional physical conduct that is sexual in nature, such as touching, pinching, patting, brushing, massaging someone’s neck or shoulders and/or pulling against another’s body or clothes.
- Material such as pornographic or sexually explicit images, posters, calendars, or objects.
- Unwelcome and inappropriate sexual activities, advances, comments, innuendoes, bullying, jokes, gestures, electronic communications or messages (e.g. email, text, social media, voicemail), exploitation, exposure, leering, stalking or invasion of sexual privacy.
- A sexually hostile environment characterized as comments or conduct that unreasonably interferes with one’s work performance or ability to do the job or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
- Direct or implied threats that submission to sexual advances will be a condition of employment or affiliation with the organization.
Reporting Procedures
- Employees: Immediately report suspected sexual abuse or misconduct to your supervisor or use the notification form found on your HR platform, ConnecTeam. It is not required to directly confront the person who is the source of the report, question or complaint before notifying your supervisor, but guidance on first speaking to the person who is the source of your complaint is given in your training packet.
- Parents and Other Third Parties: Immediately report suspected sexual abuse or misconduct to the General Manager or use the reporting platform found on the Alaska Rock Gym website. Do not confront the person who is the source of the report or complaint before giving notification.
Anti-Retaliation and False Allegations
The Alaska Rock Gym prohibits retaliation made against any employee, volunteer, board member or other person who lodges a good faith complaint of sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct or who participates in any related investigation. Knowingly false or malicious accusations of sexual abuse or misconduct can have serious consequences for those who are wrongly accused. The Alaska Rock Gym prohibits making false or malicious sexual misconduct allegations, as well as deliberately providing false information during an investigation. Anyone who violates this rule is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or membership and criminal prosecution.
Investigation and Follow-up
The Alaska Rock Gym takes all allegations of sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct seriously and will promptly, thoroughly and equitably investigate whether misconduct has taken place. The organization may utilize an outside third-party to conduct an investigation of abuse, harassment or misconduct. The Alaska Rock Gym will cooperate fully with any investigation conducted by law enforcement or other regulatory/protective service agencies and will make every reasonable effort to keep the matters involved in the allegation as confidential as possible while still allowing for a prompt and thorough investigation.
Reporting to Law Enforcement or Appropriate Child or Adult Protective Services
The Alaska Rock Gym is committed to following the state and federal legal requirements for reporting allegations or incidents of sexual abuse or misconduct to appropriate law enforcement and child or adult protective services organizations. The Alaska Rock Gym will not attempt to investigate or assess the validity or credibility of an allegation of sexual or physical abuse as a condition before reporting the allegation to proper law enforcement authorities or protective services organizations.
Employee Screening and Selection
As part of its sexual abuse and misconduct prevention program, the Alaska Rock Gym maintains a diligent screening program for prospective and existing employees, volunteers and others that may have interaction with those employed by, associated with or serviced by the business. The organization may utilize a variety of methods of screening and selection, including but not limited to applications, personal interviews, criminal background checks and personal and professional references.
Employee Training
All those new to employment at the Alaska Rock Gym will receive specific training on the sexual abuse, harassment and misconduct standards set forth by the gym. The training will include education on what constitutes unacceptable conduct and sexual harassment and the reporting process. All senior coaches and leads shall register with USAClimbing and take the USAClimbing SafeSport training class as a condition of employment. All desk staff, youth program instructors and fitness/yoga instructors shall complete and sign off on the Abuse Prevention module in the employee training manual and be refreshed on its content annually.
Supervision of Youth
To provide a safe environment for minors, the Alaska Rock Gym strives that a minimum of two adult workers supervise or be in attendance with minors during classes or organization-related activities. One-on-one interactions will take place during private lessons and coaching sessions, but these activities will be conducted in public, open spaces within the gym. The purpose is to avoid one-on-one interactions between adults and minors that are not easily observable by others. If individual meetings with a minor must be held in an office, the door is kept open. Closed door meetings are only conducted with another adult present and the door remains unlocked.