RDT’S RACIAL, SEXUAL, AND OTHER UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION POLICY

RDT is committed to providing a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. To that end, RDT prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment against any individual based on race, sex, gender (including identity and expression), sexual orientation, religion, age, color, national origin, or mental or physical disability, genetic disposition, military or veteran’s status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law. Unwelcome actions, words, jokes or comments based on an individual’s sex, race, ethnicity, age, religion or any other legally protected characteristic will not be tolerated. Such behavior is a form of employee misconduct that demeans another person and undermines the integrity of the employment relationship and is strictly prohibited. RDT also prohibits abusive conduct or bullying by any staff member, and likewise will not tolerate abusive or harassing behavior from any donor, patron, student, volunteer, or member of the public toward RDT staff. Violations of this policy by RDT employees will be treated as disciplinary matters and may constitute grounds for termination of employment

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

It is RDT’s policy to prohibit the Sexual Harassment of any employee, dancer/ Artist, guest Artist, board member, donor, patron, student, volunteer, or member of the public (regardless of gender—male, female, gender non-conforming, gender non-binary) by any RDT employee, dancer, or other staff. Sexual Harassment may include a range of subtle and not-so-subtle behaviors such as visual conduct (leering, gestures, graphics, or pictures), verbal comments (offensive epithets, slurs, jokes), or unwanted sexual advances (suggestive or physical). Sexual Harassment specifically includes the transmission or expression of any of the conduct prohibited above through the use of digital Social Media technologies, and any such Social Media conduct would constitute a violation of both RDT’s Sexual Harassment policy and RDT’s Social Media Policy Statement (as contained in RDT’s “Dancers & Staff Policies and Protocol”). Violations of RDT’s Sexual Harassment policy and RDT’s Social Media Policy Statement by RDT employees will be treated as disciplinary matters and may constitute grounds for termination of employment.

DUTY TO REPORT HARASSMENT/ CONFIDENTIALITY/ PROTECTION FROM RETALIATION

RDT encourages any employee who is subjected to, or who witnesses another person subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or abusive conduct, to promptly report such to his/her or her supervisor. If the supervisor is unavailable or the employee believes it would be inappropriate to contact that person, the employee should immediately contact the Artistic Director, a member

of the Artistic Staff, or the Chairman of the RDT Board of Trustees.  Any employee who has direct knowledge of any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or abusive conduct has an obligation to report the allegation or incident to the persons designated above. Individuals with supervisory responsibility are required to report such conduct or behavior IMMEDIATELY, regardless of how they learned of it. If any of the persons designated above is the subject of the report or is alleged to be involved in the incident, the reporting employee should address the matter to one of the other persons designated above.  Any employee who knowingly makes a false report or knowingly provides false information during an investigation will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All complaints, investigations and reports made according to this policy will be undertaken immediately and will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with conducting a full investigation.  Employees are expected to cooperate in the investigation of any complaint. Once a complaint or incident is reported, RDT management acknowledges an obligation to promptly, fully, and impartially investigate such.

PROTECTION FROM RETALIATION

Consistent with the law, it is the policy of RDT to assure any employee who reports unlawful discrimination or harassment that they will not be retaliated against in any way. This protection extends to any employee who makes an allegation, reports an incident, provides information as a witness, or who otherwise participates in any investigation into any allegation of discrimination, abuse, or harassment of any kind. Any such employee is protected from any adverse employment action, such as demotion, termination, or adverse casting decisions, for engaging in a legally protected activity, such as reporting a claim of discrimination or harassment. This protection applies to both reporting employees and participating employees as described above. This protection applies regardless of the ultimate result of the investigation.

It is the goal of RDT to maintain a comfortable, friendly, non-coercive environment for all persons employed by Repertory Dance Theatre, and for all persons who come into contact with RDT as we interact with the community at large. This goal requires all RDT staff and Artists to work together for everyone’s protection.  Always remember:  Act and speak up if you see an issue. Ask if you’re not sure.

RDT Social Media Policies  

SOCIAL MEDIA Policy statement

Social media technology is now being used not only for online communities, but also as an alternative for ‘traditional’ business communication. For many people, participation in these forms of communication technologies is an integral aspect of their professional and social lives, which may lead to a blurring of the public face and private identity of employees.

RDT recognizes that social media is a term which encompasses the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. These activities, and the manner in which information is presented, are dependant upon varied perspectives and the creation of shared meaning as people share their stories and understandings.

 Use of Social Media Technologies

RDT supports participation in social media technologies, recognizing they are:

Used for both work and private use by many employees

• A valuable vehicle in teaching, learning and assessment processes
• An effective way to communicate and build audiences.

Participation as an Individual

RDT has a particular concern regarding the ease which professional distance can be blurred. With the immediacy of the media and false sense of anonymity often constructed through internet communication, employees must be mindful that:

• Personal views on employees’ social network spaces can affect perceptions of their professional views if taken in the wrong context.
• Personal postings which discuss RDT should include disclosure that the author is an employee of RDT, and the views expressed are those of the author and not those of RDT.
• The news media will always make the link between controversial comments made by an RDT employee and RDT.
• Tensions between work colleagues may be exacerbated.
• Care must be taken not to share unauthorized or confidential RDT information;
• Not everything on the web is free to copy and care must be taken not to intentionally or unintentionally breach copyright.
• Inappropriate postings by RDT dancers/staff, or independent contractor may result in claims of defamation, discrimination, harassment and invasion of privacy.  The inappropriate use of social media, either in a professional or personal capacity, can violate the privacy, breach the security and harm the reputations of other employees, students and/or RDT. Such activity may be determined as misconduct or serious misconduct, resulting in possible disciplinary action or termination of employment.

RDT’s Digital Policy when working with underage students

This policy pertains to all RDT dancers and guest artists. 

This policy is put in place to insure appropriate professional interactions between RDT dancers, guest artists and staff at all times covers digital and social media interactions between employees, and independent contractors and any underage student they may come into contact with during RDT sponsored master classes, choreography workshops, Dance Center on Broadway classes, and/or lecture demonstrations/performances.  An underage student minor will be defined as any student 18 years of age or younger and still attending high school.

Teacher-student interactions that occur outside of a dancers’ time with RDT are not covered by this policy; however, it is suggested that these same policies be adopted to maintain proper professional relationships at all times in all areas of an artist’s professional life.

Coverage of devices:

This policy covers all forms of digital communications including: SMS, texting, iMessages, Facetime, instant messaging, email, Facebook, SnapChat, Google Hangouts, Instagram, and Twitter that can occur via cell phones, iPads, computers, and other wireless devices.

Specific activities prohibited:

1. Texting, talking on the phone, or using your wireless device while operating any vehicle, (RDT’s van or your personal cars and trucks used for business-related purposes) is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes times when the vehicle is in motion and the time when waiting for a traffic signal to change.
2. Do not engage or communicate with student minors through email, text messages, social networking websites, internet chat rooms, or other forms of social media defined above at any time. If you need to contact or speak with a minor, contact an adult supervisor/teacher/parent who works with the student and make contact with them via an adult.
3. Do not accept Facebook friend requests from student minors you come into contact with while working for RDT.
4. Do not make a Facebook friend request with a student minor you have come into contact with while working for RDT.
5. Do not meet with student minors outside of established times for RDT activities. Any exceptions require written parental authorization and must include more than one adult present.
6. Do not invite individual student minors to your home.
7. Do not engage or allow student minors to engage you in romantic or sexual conversations, or related matters.
8. Do not be alone with a student minor. If one-on-one interaction is required, meet in open, well illuminated spaces or rooms with windows observable by other adults from RDT.

Allowed usage of phone and wireless devices during RDT activities:

During RDT rehearsals: Using devices for personal business in rehearsals is discouraged. Cell phones, iPads, and other wireless devices may be used on breaks, at lunch time, to record and archive choreographic processes and workshops or used in rehearsals as teaching tools.

Posting of videos/photos: Employees must obtain permission from subjects being videoed or photographed before posting on any website.

Do not post videos or photos taken of underage students during RDT functions.

Schools and districts will not allow digital images of students to be put online without consent from parents.

Repertory Dance Theatre Arts-In-Education Policies for working in the schools

As a company member of Repertory Dance Theatre, you will be teaching and performing in the public and charter schools of Utah as part of our POPS Program Art-in-Education Activities.  The following are guidelines that are expected of you as a representative of RDT in a school or workshop setting. You will be working with children ages Kindergarten all the way through the 12^th grade. Please be cognitive of the age group you are working with for your lesson or choreography.

• Dress appropriately, no political or pop culture or popular slogans on t-shirts, masks, etc. Also, no half shirts or provocative dress, especially for the elementary students. You are there to represent RDT and the State of Utah Board of Education.
• No foul language or music with foul or suggestive language.
• In a school, there should always be a teacher or school employee present with you during your teaching or choreography sessions. It is against the law for you to be alone with students because you as an RDT member are not an employee of the school district in which you are working.
• Try to use verbal cues to correct and adjust students. Or use a fellow RDT Member to demonstrate what you are trying to correct.  We want to avoid touching students, especially in areas of sensitivity, like correcting a pelvis or torso area.
• Try to stay away from assigning gender roles.
• You may not give students your phone number or collect a phone number from a students or friend them on any social media platform. If you need to get in contact with anyone, go through RDT and the teacher of the class only.
• Do not share personal information with students.
• Come prepared with a music source, especially when teaching or choreographing in a rural area, do not expect there to be good WIFI available. RDT travels to many areas in our state where there is not good WIFI service.