Code of Conduct

  1. Purpose

    Madison PHP is a community group and is open to all. We are committed to a safe, professional environment for everyone and will not tolerate harassment or offensive behavior of any kind.

  2. Our Commitment to You

    We are enthusiastically focused on improving our event and making it a place that is welcoming to all. All reports will be taken seriously, handled respectfully, and dealt with in a timely manner.

  3. Examples of Behavior

    Examples of positive behavior include, but are not limited to:
    • Waiting for someone to finish their thought before stating yours
    • Giving tangible reasons for your CMS preference without insulting those who make other choices
    Examples of offensive behavior include, but are not limited to:
    • Walking up to someone and starting a conversation on a topic that is generally considered inappropriate for discussion at a professionally-focused groups like ours. For example, religion, politics, and sex are the primary ones, but not the only ones. These topics almost universally make people feel uncomfortable and these topics have nothing to do with the purpose of our group.
    • Making sexually explicit or suggestive comments
    • Making fun of or denigrating someone based on their race, gender, physical appearance, preferred framework/platform, etc.
    • Continuing to talk to someone after they have asked you to stop
    • Suggestive, sexual, or physical contact without someone's explicit consent
    If you aren't sure if a behavior is acceptable, ask yourself "Does this build up and encourage someone? Is this appropriate in a professional setting?" If you still aren't sure, please ask an organizer.

  4. What to Do When an Incident Occurs

    • If you are asked to stop a violating behavior, you are expected to comply immediately, even if you do not believe the behavior violates this Code of Conduct. If you have concerns about being asked to stop this behavior, please contact an organizer as soon as possible.
    • If you have an incident to report, please talk to any one of the group's organizers immediately at the event or email the organizers. Reports can be made anonymously via the email form, but we encourage you to include your contact information so we can more fully assist you and can follow-up if needed.

  5. Consequences

    Any participant at any of our events that is violating our Code of Conduct will be dealt with at the discretion of the group organizers and may be removed without opportunity for refund.

  6. Procedure for Handling an Incident Report

    1. Ask if the victim feels safe and if there is anything we can do immediately to improve the situation
    2. When a report is made verbally, listen attentively while taking written notes on the details of the incident. Confirm with the reporter when finished that the notes contain all pertinent information. Be sure to include details such as:
      • Date and time of the incident
      • Names/descriptions of those involved in the incident and any witnesses
      • Description of what transpired and why it violates the Code of Conduct
      • Contact information of the reporter so that we may follow up if needed
      • What the reporter/victim would like to see happen and anything they need to help them feel safe
    3. Contact the other organizers immediately to discuss the situation
    4. As a group, the organizers will confer and decide on an appropriate course of action, which may include (but is not limited to):
      • Initiating mediation between the conflicting parties to help them work it out
      • Discussing the issue with the offending party and insuring that the behavior will not continue
      • Removing the offending party from the event without opportunity for refund
    5. Enact the agreed upon resolution
    6. Follow up with the parties involved as needed

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Last Updated: September 24th, 2017