The Central Valley Association of REALTORS® is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination, intimidation, retaliation, or harassment for all those attending CVAR events, including C.A.R. and NAR director’s meetings. This includes directors, committee members, REALTOR® members, Affiliate members, volunteers, and association staff. In keeping with this commitment, CVAR does not condone, nor tolerate any form of unlawful harassment, including harassment based on race, religious creed, color, national original, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical conditions, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status, pregnancy or pregnancy related condition or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
Improper conduct can include, but is not limited to, harassment that is verbal, physical, visual or through other means, (i.e., by email, voicemail, or any other electronic devices). Examples of harassment may include, but are not limited to derogatory comments, slurs, jokes, statements, gestures, pictures, drawings, cartoons, assault, impeding or blocking another’s movement, unwelcome physical contact, such as hugging, kissing, patting, pinching, or brushing against another’s body or otherwise physically interfering with a person’s normal activities or attendance based upon the person’s sex or other protected characteristic. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, making unwanted sexual advances and requests for sexual favors where either 1) submission to such conduct is made an explicit or implicit term or condition of advancing in the organization; 2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for appointments affecting such individual or the association affiliated with it; or 3) such conduct has the purpose or effect substantially interfering with an individual’s performance within the CVAR structure, attending an event or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment including all meetings. Sexual harassment conduct can be by a person of either the same or opposite sex.
Occasional appropriate compliments or voluntary relationships between members and staff are not covered by this policy but all parties should be clear with one another when conduct is unwelcome. Conduct that is insulting or demeaning to the recipient is not appropriate at CVAR events. All members and staff are expected to behave accordingly and take appropriate measures to ensure that such unwelcome or inappropriate conduct does not occur.
If you believe that you are being, or have been, harassed in any way, please report the facts of the incident or incidents to the Association Executive/CEO.
To protect victims and the accused alike, efforts will be made to use the utmost confidentiality, to the extent possible, regarding complaints. All claims will be thoroughly and promptly investigated, in a manner that treats all parties fairly, and will reach an appropriate conclusion and recommend action based on the evidence collected. Upon conclusion, appropriate action will be taken against the offender. Directors and those attending the meetings/events may be subject to removal from events and/or removal from the positions over which CVAR has authority and are not allowed to attend future meetings/events. The matter may also be referred to the Association Executive Committee if an Association employee or an elected officer from that Association is involved.
Of course, retaliation by directors, committee members, volunteers, and association staff against any person for either reporting an incident or cooperating in an investigation is not consistent with this policy. If you have any questions concerning this Policy, please feel free to contact Association Executive/CEO.
Matters involving CVAR employees (as either the accused or the accuser) will be referred to the Association Executive/CEO.