Zero Tolerance Policy Against Abusive Language

Court 16 is fully committed to a zero-tolerance policy against abusive language, racial slurs, homophobic speech, bullying speech and any form of hate speech. Such language is not only offensive but also harmful and goes against principles of respect, equality, and inclusion.

Policy’s Purpose

Our organization is committed to fostering an environment of respect, and inclusion. Abusive language undermines this commitment. We strongly condemn any forms of abusive language including without limitation racial slurs, profanities, homophobic speech, hate speech, any forms of insults, trolling, pestering, doxing, or sharing personal information about others, comparing people or groups to extremists or sexual predators, wishing death or suffering upon people or their families, disparaging another person’s appearance, or insulting another person’s intelligence or mental capacity, repetitive usage of slurs, racists or sexist trope where the context is to harass and intimidate others. This policy aims to maintain a safe and welcoming space for all members and participants.

Definitions

Abusive language includes any form of communication, whether verbal, written, or digital, that contains profanity, derogatory comments, insults, racial slurs, homophobic language, or any other form of offensive or disrespectful language intended to harm or demean individuals or groups. The following abusive language categories will not be tolerated at Court 16 : Racial slurs are offensive and derogatory terms or expressions that target an individual or group based on their race, ethnicity, nationality, or any other protected characteristic. This includes but is not limited to slurs (e.g N-word), racial epithets, and hate speech. Homophobic speech includes derogatory, offensive, or prejudiced language or expressions targeting individuals or groups based on their sexual orientation, such as slurs, derogatory terms, and hate speech. Religious insults include derogatory, offensive, or prejudiced language or expressions that target individuals or groups based on their religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations. This includes insults, derogatory terms, hate speech, and any form of communication that demeans or disrespects religious beliefs. Bullying speech includes any form of communication, whether verbal, written, or digital, that constitutes harassment, intimidation, threats, or any other form of abusive or disrespectful language intended to harm, demean, or exclude individuals or groups.

Zero Tolerance

Court 16 has a zero-tolerance policy against the use of abusive language. This applies to all communication channels, including in-person interactions or written communications.

Reporting

Any member or participant who witnesses or experiences any form of abusive language is encouraged to report the incident promptly to (i) any of our Members Services Associates in charge at the front desk, or (ii) through the dedicated email address: respect@court16.com

Investigation

Upon receiving a report, our organization will promptly and thoroughly investigate the alleged incident. Investigations will be carried out with sensitivity and confidentiality.

Compliance and Disciplinary Action

All members, players, guests, participants, and representatives of our organization/community are expected to comply with this policy. If the investigation demonstrates a failure to do so, Court 16 will enforce adequate disciplinary action against the offender, which may include without limitation the following measures, depending on the severity of the offense, the age and mental conditions of the offender: (a) Offenders may receive a written warning, (b) offenders may be required to leave the premises, (c) a person’s membership may also be suspended or (d) terminated without compensation

Training, Review and Updates

Court 16’s staff will be periodically trained to recognize any potential abusive language, and are urged to report any incident to their managers. This policy will be periodically reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. By implementing and enforcing such a policy, organizations and communities can actively contribute to creating a more inclusive and respectful environment, where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, religion, gender or background.