Harassment

Last Updated: April 2026

ETFLIN is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all members of the global scientific and publishing community. We maintain a zero-tolerance stance toward any form of harassment, ensuring that our platforms remains a space where intellectual exchange can occur without fear or intimidation.

Understanding and Defining Harassment

Harassment is defined as any behavior, verbal, written, or physical, that is unwelcome, discriminatory, or offensive. This includes conduct that interferes with an individual’s ability to participate in ETFLIN activities or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.

Key categories of prohibited conduct include:

  • Sexual Harassment: This involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It also encompasses the display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures in digital or physical spaces.

  • Bullying and Discriminatory Behavior: We prohibit any behavior that degrades, belittles, or humiliates an individual based on race, gender, religion, age, disability, or personal characteristics. This includes the use of racial slurs, sexist comments, or exclusionary practices.

  • Retaliation: ETFLIN strictly prohibits any adverse action against an individual who, in good faith, reports an incident of harassment or participates in an investigation. Protecting whistleblowers is essential to maintaining a transparent and safe community.

Resolution and Accountability

ETFLIN takes every report of harassment seriously. Our Resolution Process is designed to be prompt and thorough. Upon receiving a report at halo@etflin.com, an independent review committee initiates an investigation.

If a violation is confirmed, actions taken may include a formal warning, temporary suspension, or the permanent revocation of access to ETFLIN’s communication channels and publication activities. Our goal is not only to address the specific incident but to prevent recurrence and ensure community safety.

Confidentiality and Privacy

We understand the sensitive nature of harassment reports. All cases are handled with the highest level of Confidentiality. Information regarding the identity of the reporter and the nature of the complaint is shared only with the specific parties necessary to conduct a fair and thorough investigation. We are committed to protecting the privacy of all involved while ensuring that justice is served.

Training, Education, and Industry Context

Prevention is the cornerstone of our strategy. Through Training & Education, we provide our editors, reviewers, and staff with the tools to recognize and address microaggressions and harassment. This proactive approach helps build a culture of "active bystanders" who can intervene before a situation escalates.

The necessity for these policies is supported by broader academic and professional statistics. Studies across the global research sector indicate that harassment remains a significant barrier to entry and retention:

  • Sexual Harassment: A 2018 report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly 50% of female faculty and staff in academia had experienced sexual harassment.

  • Racial Harassment: In a 2020 survey of the scientific workforce, approximately 32% of Black respondents and 19% of Hispanic respondents reported experiencing workplace discrimination or harassment based on their race.

  • Bullying: A press release published in SpringerNature has indicated that roughly 25% of graduate students report experiencing bullying during their academic careers.

By acknowledging these concrete challenges, ETFLIN remains dedicated to being part of the solution. We continuously update our training materials and response protocols to reflect the latest best practices in DEI and workplace safety.

Reporting and Assistance

If you experience or witness any behavior that violates this policy, please reach out to our central service immediately. We are here to listen and take action.

Reporting Channel: halo@etflin.com

All reports are investigated with a commitment to Prompt Investigation and Privacy Protection.