What can you do as an organization?

A code of conduct outlines how your organization believes it should treat each other. It works best when these rules are developed and approved in collaboration with the organization. You can use the code of conduct for the music sector or adapt it for your own organization: "Creating a safe music sector together."

Once the code of conduct is in place, it's important that everyone is aware of its rules. Make sure all your employees, including freelancers, artists, and volunteers, can find, understand, and endorse it as part of a contract. Also, discuss it regularly with everyone who works for your organization, for example, during performance reviews.

Convey that inappropriate behavior is absolutely unacceptable and explain why you consider it important. Clearly document policies and measures. Ensure sufficient budget, staffing, and resources to actually implement these policies, so they become more than just a paper reality. Read the SER's "Tackling Undesirable Behavior in the Workplace" guidelines here for more tips.

If managers engage in inappropriate behavior, it damages the credibility of the codes of conduct and policies. Employees are therefore less likely to commit to them.

Check how the work culture within your organization is perceived, for example, by asking about it in an employee satisfaction survey. If it turns out the culture isn't perceived as safe, it's important to take action. Consider involving an external expert for this.

Make inappropriate behavior a topic of discussion. Lower the barriers people feel to speaking up. Provide an independent and expert confidential counselor, ensure the code of conduct is visible in the work environment, and provide effective information and training on inappropriate behavior. This can have a preventative effect.

Despite the measures you take, inappropriate behavior can still occur. Ensure people can report such incidents. Establish a complaints procedure and share it with the entire organization. Also, establish an independent complaints committee to investigate these reports. Read more below about how to handle incoming reports.