WCSADS Behavioural Complaint Process
If you wish to make a behavioural complaint or concern, please email info@westcoastswingedmonton.com
Intent / background:
We occasionally receive reports of a dancer whose behaviour is making others feel uncomfortable or unsafe. This can include:
- Unwelcome comments
- Unwelcome attention, clinging on
- Inappropriate touching or gestures
This negative behaviour impacts the whole club – by having offended dancers potentially leave the club, allowing bad behaviour to continue and possibly worsen and negatively impacting the club’s reputation.
It is counter to the club’s goals of creating a welcoming space, and growing the community through positive experiences at our events.
It is important to be open to receiving complaints and having a process to deal with those complaints.
Strategies for managing bad behaviour:
– Promote good behaviour
– Welcome behaviour complaints, and take them seriously
– Have a process for dealing with complaints
– Sanction repeat offenders, possibly to the point of being banned from events
Principles for dealing with complaints:
- Be fair to both parties
- Respect individuals’ privacy
- Protect the dance community
- Offer options for remedies
Complaints process:
There are 2 levels of complaint.
1) Written complaint: Where the person who was uncomfortable wants to file a formal written complaint and
2) Verbal concern Where they just want to register or discuss their concerns, possibly anonymously
1. Written complaint
Anyone at our events can file a written complaint about a specific incident.
The WCSADS Complaints Director, appointed by the board, will review and investigate the complaint with the following process.
Receipt and Acknowledgment:
– Contact the complainant to acknowledge receipt of the complaint and review any details.
– Bring the complaint to the notice of the board. If a board member is involved, they will recuse themselves from discussions.
Notification and Response:
– Contact the person in question and inform them of the complaint. They will receive a copy of the written complaint and have an opportunity to respond.
– If the accused does not respond, the Complaints Director can proceed with rulings without their input.
Investigation and Resolution:
– With input from some or all of the WCSADS board, the Complaints Director can:
– Facilitate a resolution between the parties.
– Dismiss the complaint.
– Issue a warning to the accused.
– Ban the accused from events for a period of time.
– Ban the accused from events indefinitely.
Communication of Ruling
– Contact both the complainant and the accused separately to explain the ruling and any sanctions.
– Records of the complaint and ruling will be kept on the club’s files indefinitely.
B. Verbal Concern:
– Anyone at our events can file a concern.
This isn’t a complainant seeking formal resolution but is to inform the club of questionable behaviour. It is considered informal.
– This sort of complaint can be made to any member of the board. The board member hearing the complaint will inform the WCSADS board of the concern, with or without the complainant’s name being presented as per their request.
- The concern may be acted upon at the discretion of the Board maintaining confidentiality of the complainant if requested.
- Concerns deemed of merit will be kept on file for three years and then deleted if no further similar concerns are received.
Importance of Confidentiality and Privacy
Confidentiality will be maintained, and measures will be taken to protect the privacy of all involved. Information will be provided only to the complainant, the accused, the Complaints Director, and the board. Sharing information outside of appropriate parties may result in sanctions.
Appeals Process
Either the complainant or accused can request an appeal in writing to the president of the WCSADS board within 3 months of a decision rendered. The board will review their decision and decide to support or overturn their previous decision.