Violations of HEART Code of Conduct

Violations of the HEART Society Code of Conduct should be reported to meeting organizers or HEART Steering Committee (SC) members. Sanctions for violations of the policy are detailed below. Retaliation for complaints of inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated. 
All offenses will be documented by the HEART Steering Committee Chair or Secretary in a spreadsheet.

• Stored on HEART repository in a limited access location
  • Access restricted to HEART SC Chair, HEART SC Vice Chair, HEART SC Jr. Past Chair, HEART SC Secretary, and Security
• For each violation, the HEART SC Secretary updates this spreadsheet with relevant information regarding who/what/when/action taken

 
If an offense (first or additional) is deemed especially egregious (by Conference Chair, HEART SC Chair, and/or Security), no warning will be issued and the offender will be ejected from the meeting (no refund). 
 
For “additional offenses” or especially egregious offenses, the elected Steering Committee members will vote to determine if the violation(s) should result in a ban from future meetings.
 
If an individual declines to report an offense, an offense is observed by others, or an offense is reported by someone other than the victim, available information will still be investigated and documented.
 
Consequences for Violations of the HEART Code of Conduct are the same for discrimination, harassment, bullying, and violations of the photography/recording policy.

First offense

• Verbally inform the offender about the violation and what to expect
• Remove offender from immediate area, can return to sessions next day
  • Security will be alerted to ensure offender complies
• Email to be sent to HEART Conference Chair, Security, HEART SC Chair, HEART SC Vice Chair, HEART SC Jr. Past Chair, and HEART SC Secretary for awareness and documenting the offense
  • Copy to offender (and supervisor if appropriate)
  • Possible notification of law enforcement or other authorities
• HEART SC Secretary will update offender spreadsheet 

​Additional offenses

• Ejection from meeting (no refund)
  • MAY be able to return next year, at discretion of HEART SC elected members & Security
  • Repeat offenses in repeat years, HEART SC elected members will vote to determine if offender should be banned from future meetings.
• Email to be sent to HEART Conference Chair, Security, HEART SC Chair, HEART SC Vice Chair, HEART SC Jr. Past Chair, and HEART SC Secretary for awareness and documenting the offense
  • Copy to offender (and supervisor)
  • Notification of law enforcement if determined to be appropriate
• HEART SC Secretary will update offender spreadsheet