II. Our Red Lines
The following points describe behaviour that we do not tolerate when dealing with each other. Any conduct that is also prohibited by law may additionally be liable to consequences in employment and/or criminal law.
Discrimination
We do not tolerate any discriminatory behaviour that arises from deviations from social norms and that disadvantages or degrades persons. Discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, skin colour, religion, beliefs, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy and parenthood, social origins or other aspects will not go unnnoticed and will not be tolerated. Discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than another person in comparable situations because of one or more of the above criteria.
Violence and Infringements
We condemn all forms of cyber violence as well as economic, physical, psychological or sexualised violence or hate crimes. Acts that cross personal boundaries deliberately or accidentally and/or without explicit consent may constitute assault. In awareness of the individual nature of boundaries, the definition of a boundary falls to the person concerned, except where the law makes a different provision. Physical contact that does not seem required in the context of professional practice should generally be avoided. If the exercise of a profession requires physical contact, prior consent must first be obtained from the other person. Infringements are addressed as such and documented.
Bullying
We do not accept disdainful or degrading personal comments by individuals or a group that aim to systematically discredit or isolate others, exclude others in general or from a particular group or displace them from their position. This includes, for example, defamation, condescending public reprimands, abusive accusations, denial of information that is necessary for the exercise of the profession, the assignment of degrading tasks and unequal assessment of equivalent performance during meetings, at rehearsals or during events.
Sexual Harassment
Sexually harassing, invasive behaviour that impairs a person’s dignity or physical, mental or intellectual integrity will not be tolerated. Offensive, suggestive remarks, jokes and gestures, undesirable physical contact, advances made with promises of advantages or threats of disadvantages, the display and dissemination of pornographic material or the exploitation of a relationship of dependence will not be tolerated.
Abuse of Power
We condemn actions from a position of power that aim to harm, harass or undermine others or to attain advantages for oneself or others. Such actions can be made directly or indirectly (e.g., by instruction of others), for example by threatening disadvantages, deliberately excluding others, degrading people, refusing contact and/or humiliating a person, exploiting the inviolability of a position of power, by verbal abuse, coercion, extortion, threats or silencing.
Health and Safety and a Duty of Care
The non-observance of managers’ duty of care and occupational health and safety, the non-compliance with contractual agreements and the acceptance of behaviour that is harmful to health and safety will not be excused. The abuse of drugs, medication, alcohol and other legal or illegal psychotropic or narcotic substances has no place in the workday and reduces the inhibition threshold for inappropriate behaviour.
