A “Code of Conduct” is:

a set of rules outlining the norms, rules, and responsibilities or proper practices of an individual party or an organization - Wikipedia

This code of conduct outlines our expectations for all members of FetLife’s Team, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior.

What is in violation?

Examples of unacceptable behaviour include, but are not limited to:

• Working on and/or taking action on a profile where there is a personal conflict of interest
• Handling a report or case for a friend, partner, etc.
• Taking personal action against a member based on any information you learned through handling of a report or case ex. block someone on FetLife because of something they saw while doing a case
• Sharing any information that the average member of FetLife would not easily have access to with someone that is not on the team
• Searching or looking through information about a member where there is a personal conflict of interest
• Unwelcome and continued sexual attention. This includes, unwelcome and continued sexualized comments or jokes; inappropriate touching, groping, and sexual advances
• Non-consensual violence, threat of violence, or violent language directed against another person
• Publishing or threaten to publish others' private information, without their explicit permission
• Malicious personal insults, particularly those related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or disability
• Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following (online or in person)
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour

What is not in violation?

• Handling a report where the large majority of the team has been blocked simply because they are members of the team and not because of previous personal interactions
• Recusing themselves from a case and leaving it for another member of the team to handle
• Raising interpersonal issues that a member of the team may have within the community that may impact upon their work

How do I report a violation?

Send an email to codeofconduct@fetlife.com with any information you have.

The email is then automatically forwarded to the members of the leadership / management team.

The leadership / management team are obligated to respect the privacy and security of the reporter of any incident i.e. information will not be shared outside the leadership / management team, including to the caretaker involved, without consent from the reporter.

If the report concerns a member of the leadership / management team, that individual will be recused from the review and if necessary, another team member will be assigned to help review the case.

Who can report a violation?

Anyone, including but not limited to: members of the team, current members of the community and former members of the community.

What happens if someone is in violation?

FetLife Leadership and Management are responsible for clarifying and enforcing our standards of acceptable behaviour and will take appropriate and fair corrective action in response to any behaviour that they deem inappropriate, threatening, offensive, or harmful.

Depending on the severity of the violation it can be anything from a written correction, to an official warning, to a temporary unpaid suspension, to a permanent suspension from the team.