Let's start by addressing the fact that everyone draws a different line regarding sexual harassment. If you feel in that you are being sexually harassed in any way, shape, or form at Lifely, by either a client or a colleague, it means you are. You alone can define the boundaries of your comfort zone and we will be here to protect you in any way we can. It's save to say that we take sexual harassment extremely seriously at Lifely.

Let make things crystal clear: We won’t tolerate sexual harassment at Lifely in any way, shape, or form. Our culture is based on mutual respect, responsibility, and freedom. Sexual harassment is a serious violation of those principles.

Sexual harassment can be exhausting for those who endure it. Speaking up about this issue is often tough for fear of not being heard, upsetting Team Leads, and challenging corporate culture. Especially considering we work with clients who might have different values than those we have at Lifely. That's why we've taken the time to write extensively about this matter.

Please, don’t let these fears deter you. Lifely will do everything in their power to prevent sexual harassment or any other kind of harassment, or stop it in its tracks, while supporting harassed employees. We need to know what’s going on so we can act on it. By raising your voice on this issue, for yourself or a colleague, you help our company to create a happy, thriving workplace.

Our principles

• No one has the right to sexually harass you. Employment of any person or client who is found guilty of serious harassment will be terminated, whether they are a Founder, a Lead, or an Intern. Also, if representatives of our clients or contractors sexually harass our employees, we will demand that the company they work for takes disciplinary action and/or we'll refuse to work with the client in the future.
• Sexual harassment is never too minor to be dealt with. Any kind of harassment can wear you down and create a hostile workplace. We will hear every claim and take appropriate disciplinary actions.
• Sexual harassment is about how we make others feel. Many don't consider behaviors like flirting or sexual comments to be sexual harassment, thinking they're too innocent to be labeled that way. But, if something you do makes your colleagues uncomfortable, or makes them feel unsafe, you must stop this behavior. Whether this happens on or off Lifely's premises.
• We assume every sexual harassment claim is legitimate unless proven otherwise. We listen to victims of sexual harassment and will do our best to conduct our investigation properly.
• We will not allow further victimization of harassed employees. We will fully support employees who were sexually harassed and will not take any adverse action against them. For example, we will not move them to positions with worse pay or benefits, or allow others to retaliate against them.
• Those who support or overlook sexual harassment are as much at fault as offenders. Leads and HR especially are obliged to prevent sexual harassment and act when they have suspicions or receive reports thereof. Allowing this behavior to continue or encouraging it will result in disciplinary action. Anyone who witnesses an incident of sexual harassment or has other kinds of proof should report it.

What’s not acceptable at Lifely

Sexual harassment comes in many forms and in variable degrees of severity. A person sexually harasses someone when they:

• Insinuate, propose, or demand sexual favors of any kind.
• Invade another person’s personal space (e.g. inappropriate touching).
• Stalk, intimidate, coerce, or threaten another person to get them to engage in sexual acts.
• Send or display sexually explicit objects or messages.
• Comment on someone’s looks, dress, sexuality, or gender in a derogatory or objectifying manner or a manner that makes them uncomfortable.
• Make obscene comments, jokes, or gestures that humiliate or offend someone.
• Pursue or flirt with another person persistently without the other person’s willing participation. Also, flirting with someone at an inappropriate time (e.g. in a team meeting) is considered sexual harassment, even when these advances would have been welcome in a different setting. This is because such actions can harm a person’s professional reputation and expose them to further harassment.