Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center Anti-Discrimination Policy

Purpose
Wings of Hope is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all employees, volunteers, clients and partners. This Anti-Discrimination Policy is designed to ensure that every individual is treated with respect and dignity, and that any form of discrimination, harassment or hateful behavior is not tolerated.

Scope
This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, clients, contractors and visitors at Wings of Hope. It covers all aspects of employment and participation, including recruitment, promotion, training, termination and provision of services.

Policy Statement
Wings of Hope prohibits discrimination, harassment and any behavior that is hateful or offensive on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Definitions

  • Discrimination: Unfair treatment of a person or group based on certain characteristics.

  • Harassment: Unwelcome conduct that is based on a protected characteristic. Harassment becomes unlawful when enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment or participation, or the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work or service environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile or abusive.

  • Hateful Behavior: Any conduct or speech that expresses hate or discrimination against a person or group based on protected characteristics.

Responsibilities

  • Employees and Volunteers: All employees and volunteers are responsible for understanding, promoting and adhering to this policy. They must report any incidents of discrimination, harassment or hateful behavior they witness or experience.

  • Managers and Supervisors: Managers and supervisors must take immediate action to address and report any incidents of discrimination, harassment or hateful behavior. They are responsible for fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring their teams understand and comply with this policy.

Complaint Procedure

  1. Reporting: Any individual who believes they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment or hateful behavior should report the incident to the executive director.

  2. Investigation: All reports of discrimination, harassment or hateful behavior will be promptly and thoroughly investigated. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.

  3. Resolution: If a complaint is substantiated, appropriate corrective action will be taken, which may include disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or volunteer services. Individuals engaging in hateful behavior may also be asked to excuse themselves from the premises or activities.

Retaliation Prohibited
 Wings of Hope strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination, harassment or hateful behavior or participates in an investigation. Any form of retaliation will be met with disciplinary action.

Training and Awareness
Wings of Hope will provide regular training to all employees and volunteers on this Anti-Discrimination Policy and their roles and responsibilities in creating a discrimination-free environment.

Review and Updates
This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to ensure it continues to meet legal requirements and the needs of Wings of Hope.

For more information, individuals may contact:
Abbey Loughman, Executive Director
abbey@wingsofhope.org - 712.325.8970 

By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center aims to support its mission of providing unwavering support to all those affected by cancer.