Policies

Our Non-Discrimination Policy

The Tai Chi Foundation (TCF) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, political affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and the provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our students, staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

The Tai Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Our Sexual Harassment Policy

The Tai Chi Foundation pledges to preserve a working environment free from sexual harassment, which is against the law and is a form of gender discrimination.

This policy aims to prevent harassment of any kind by anyone employed by or associated with TCF. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or unwanted sexual attention by anyone associated with TCF, whether male or female.

Harassment may include references to employment status or conditions or may serve to create a hostile, intimidating or uncomfortable environment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, obscene jokes, lewd comments, sexual depictions, repeated requests for dates, improper touching, staring or other sexual conduct committed either on or off premises.

In class, our teachers ask permission to touch students to make postural and tension-reducing adjustments.

Victims of sexual harassment have the right to sue both the Tai Chi Foundation and the perpetrator by contacting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a state agency. For this reason and for the protection of all our employees, the Tai Chi Foundation seeks to prevent sexual harassment.

All Tai Chi Foundation employees are responsible for helping ensure our workplace is kept free of sexual harassment. If you feel you have been a victim of sexual harassment, report the behavior to our Sexual Harassment Coordinator, Penny Harrison, [email protected], to any senior teacher, or to the TCF Board of Directors. If you have witnessed sexual harassment, you also are urged to report the incident so that prompt action may be taken.

All complaints will be treated seriously, kept as confidential as possible, and investigated fully. The Tai Chi Foundation expressly forbids any retaliation against employees or volunteers or students or clients for reporting sexual harassment. If, however, TCF finds that false charges have been filed, disciplinary action may be taken against anyone who provides false information.

If an investigation confirms sexual harassment has occurred, immediate action will be taken to put an end to the harassment. TCF will take corrective actions against anyone found to be in violation of this policy, including possible termination of employment.

Other Discriminatory Harassment

The Tai Chi Foundation strongly supports the rights of all its employees and volunteers to work in an environment free from all forms of harassment, including harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability. Harassing conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Epithets
• Negative stereotyping
• Slurs
• Threatening, intimidating or hostile acts relating to personal characteristics
• Written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of the above characteristics, and that is placed on walls, bulletin boards, or elsewhere on the premises, or circulated in the workplace.

In compliance with the EEOC Guidelines and our policy, The Tai Chi Foundation prohibits harassment of any kind. If the result of an investigation indicates corrective action is called for, such action may include disciplinary measures up to and including immediate termination of the employment of the offender.