- What's the Value of a Code of Conduct?
- Establishing a Code of Conduct
- Evaluating the Codes of Conduct You See
- What if a Conference Doesn't Have a Code of Conduct?
- Codes of Conduct are Just a Starting Point
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Evaluating the Codes of Conduct You See
While the Conference Code of Conduct is common, many organizations choose to create their own. Whether you're attending a conference or speaking at one, you need to evaluate each code of conduct and decide whether you're comfortable with it. Unfortunately, all codes of conduct are not created equal.
Dryden, in her Codes of Conduct 101 & FAQ, laid out four points that every code of conduct must cover:
- Statement of unacceptable behavior
- How the policy will be enforced
- How and to whom to make an incident report
- Training and reference materials for organizers, staff, and volunteers on how to respond to incident reports
It's worth noting that codes of conduct don't have to be restricted to communities meeting in person at conferences. It is also valuable to use a code of conduct to help set standards for a community that meets in other ways. Chavez explains, “If it's mostly an online community that only meets once a year at your conference, then the code of conduct should include consequences of violating a rule on a usual mode of communication, like Twitter or IRC, too. Make sure exhibitors and sponsors abide by the code of conduct as well, and be sure there isn't any sexist language or behavior in their promotional materials that could alienate attendees.”