Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct applies to everyone involved with Beth Jacob USY, including all participants, minor participants, groups, staff, USY personnel, volunteers and contractors. Everyone must follow this Code
of Conduct to stay in good standing with Beth Jacob USY. The policies in this Code of Conduct aim to ensure safe environments and experiences during all Beth Jacob USY activities.
This Code of Conduct explains what behavior is appropriate or inappropriate. While it cannot cover every possible situation, everyone must follow the letter and spirit of these guidelines to stay in good standing with Beth Jacob USY.

Definitions of Parties:

• Participant: A person under the age of 18 who is actively engaged in programming, events, trips, or activities organized by Beth Jacob USY
• Staff: A person engaged with Beth Jacob USY in an instructional or administrative role.
• Volunteer: A person who freely gives their time to Beth Jacob USY and provides support in any capacity.
• Contractor: A person who provides occasional services for a fee.

Beth Jacob USY will not tolerate conduct that violates its policies. Even if an action was not intended to violate this Code of Conduct, Beth Jacob USY prioritizes the actual impact of the action over the person’s intentions to prevent negative experiences. In addition to upholding this Code of Conduct, Beth Jacob USY can review and may take interim action against anyone involved in or accused of unlawful activities related to their participation in Beth Jacob USY.
All parties should consider themselves ambassadors of Beth Jacob USY. They are expected to uphold these policies, remind others of them when necessary, and report alleged violations.

Alcohol & Drug Policy
Beth Jacob USY parties have the right to participate in an environment free of alcohol, drugs, and other substances.
Prohibited substances include narcotics, marijuana, products containing THC, inhalant drugs, and over-the-counter medications unless used with a valid medical prescription. Violations include, but are not limited to:

• Distributing alcohol and prohibited substances to any participant.
• Consuming or being under the influence of alcohol or a prohibited substance while under attending Beth Jacob USY events or activities.
• Possessing or distributing alcohol or a prohibited substance where such activities are prohibited.

Anti-Retaliation, Whistleblower, and False Reporting Policy
Beth Jacob USY will not tolerate retaliation against any party who makes a good faith report or threatens to make a good faith report. Retaliatory actions include threatening, intimidating, harassing, coercing, or any other action that could dissuade someone from reporting misconduct. Retaliation does not include good-faith actions lawfully pursued in response to a reported violation.
Any participant knowingly making a false allegation will be subject to disciplinary action. A false allegation differs from an unsubstantiated allegation, which means there is insufficient evidence to determine whether an allegation is true or false. An unsubstantiated allegation alone is not grounds for a Code violation.

Bullying Policy
Bullying means severe behavior directed at a participant that is aggressive and likely to hurt, control, or diminish the participant emotionally or physically often centering around a real or perceived power imbalanced. Examples of bullying include repeated physical, verbal, or social abuse. Physical abuse may refer to hitting, pushing, beating, biting, or other offensive contact. Verbal abuse may refer to ridiculing, taunting, name-calling, intimidating, or threatening to cause harm. Social abuse may refer to using rumors or false statements to diminish someone’s reputation or socially excluding someone and asking others to do the same. Bullying may occur in person or virtually through any social or electronic mediums. Bullying does not include occasional instances of rude or mean-spirited language, conduct arising from a conflict or struggle between persons with incompatible views or positions.

Confidential Reporting
Reports are made confidentially to Beth Jacob USY. Confidentiality means Beth Jacob USY will know the reporter’s identity but will not share it unless consent is provided or if Beth Jacob USY is legally required to do so. Inaccurate or withheld information will limit Beth Jacob USY’s ability to conduct an inquiry and respond.

Fraternization Policy
Beth Jacob USY maintains a strong position on fraternization between all parties. Fraternization means any close personal
relationship that goes beyond a professional working relationship and can include romantic or intimate
relationships, excessive socializing, and favoritism. Examples include:

• Sexual or romantic relationships between staff/volunteers and participants are prohibited.
• Establishing a new sexual or romantic relationship between staff/volunteers and adult participants while working with the same group is prohibited. Additionally establishing a new sexual or romantic relationships between any party where this is, or a perceived power imbalance is strongly discouraged.
• Any relationship that puts any part at risk of harm is prohibited.

General Conduct Policy
The experience of each party and the reputation of Beth Jacob USY depends on the conduct of all parties involved. Good manners, basic decency, and common sense are generally all that is required to ensure appropriate conduct and behavior. Engaging in conduct or using language that could be perceived as rude, inappropriate, abusive, disorderly, derogatory, immoral, or threatening will not be tolerated. Violations of this policy include, but are not limited to:

• Applying undue and unfair pressure to another party, especially if one party has authority over another.
• Verbally abusing any Beth Jacob USY staff.
• Inappropriate conduct during events and activities
• Disruptive or rude behavior anywhere, anytime during a Beth Jacob USY event.
• Affiliates of a group engaging in inappropriate conduct direct at any party at the event or activity

Harassment Policy
All parties must maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. Harassment means repeated or severe conduct that causes fear, humiliation, or annoyance and reflects discriminatory bias to establish dominance, superiority, or power over an individual or group based on age, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, culture, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability. Harassment also refers to conduct that creates a hostile environment. A hostile environment exists when the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with, limit, or deprive any individual of the opportunity to participate in any program or activity. Harassment may occur in person or virtually through any social or electronic medium.
Harassment does not include occasional instances of rude or mean-spirited language, conduct arising from a conflict or struggle between persons with incompatible views or positions.

Hazing Policy
Hazing means any conduct that subjects another person to anything that may endanger, abuse, humiliate,
degrade, or intimidate them as a condition of joining or being socially accepted by a group, team, or organization. Consent by the person subjected to hazing is not a defense, regardless of their perceived willingness to cooperate or participate.

Sexual Misconduct
Sexual misconduct of any kind will not be tolerated. Offenses include sexual or gender-related harassment, nonconsensual sexual contact, exposing a minor to sexual content/imagery, and sexual exploitation.

Sexual or Gender-related Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, unwanted and continued sexual flirtations, and propositions. It also includes sexually degrading words and other conduct of a sexual nature.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, unwanted and continued sexual flirtations, and propositions. It also includes sexually degrading words and other conduct of a sexual nature.

Nonconsensual Sexual Contact: Engaging in sexual contact without consent.

Exposing a Minor to Sexual Content/Imagery: Intentionally exposing a minor to sexually explicit imagery.

Sexual Exploitation: Taking non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for one’s own
advantage.

Weapons Policy
To ensure a safe environment for everyone, Beth Jacob USY strictly prohibits the wearing, carrying, storing, or possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons at any of our events. Anyone found violating this policy will be immediately removed and barred from future Beth Jacob USY events.