2020-12-22 14:02:08 +00:00
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<title>Free Software Foundation Europe statement on a public post from 20 December 2020</title>
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<h1>Free Software Foundation Europe statement on a public post from 20 December 2020</h1>
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2021-01-20 15:31:21 +00:00
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<p>22 December 2020 (Update 20 January 2021)</p>
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2020-12-22 14:33:16 +00:00
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2020-12-22 14:13:18 +00:00
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<p>On 20 December 2020, a public post was circulated
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2020-12-22 14:02:08 +00:00
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about a lawsuit in which the author claims that the Free Software
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Foundation Europe ended an employment relationship with a former
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staffer. Although it is our usual policy not to comment publicly on
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internal personnel matters for privacy reasons (our ex-employee has
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not agreed on more detail), we felt it necessary to state
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unequivocally that this post does not reflect the reality of the
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facts and contradicts the verdict by the Berlin Labour Court.</p>
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<p>The court judgement of 19 November 2020 (reference number 42 Ca
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5723/20) did not acknowledge any factual basis to the assertions.
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Furthermore the judges concluded that our former employee's own
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statements prove that she “neither experienced hostility, nor was
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she offended, nor in another form intimidated or demeaned”.
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Additionally they found, she received equal treatment, and that
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“the boundaries of socially acceptable conduct” were “not
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exceeded”.</p>
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<p>Until the end of the proceedings, we do not wish to comment any
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further. In the meantime we discourage speculation, the former
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employee confirmed to us through her lawyer on 22 December 2020
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that she does not support speculation about names and we respect
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that wish.</p>
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<p>Free Software is meant to serve everyone regardless of their
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2020-12-23 11:12:09 +00:00
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age, ability or disability, gender identity, sex, race, nationality, religion,
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2020-12-22 14:02:08 +00:00
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or sexual orientation. True to this principle, we pay our staff
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based on their qualifications and performance, without reference to
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any of the characteristics listed. To promote inclusivity and
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equality in the Free Software community, our recruitment process <a
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href="/news/2018/news-20180716-01.en.html#howtoapply">gives
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preference to applicants</a> who identify as part of
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underrepresented groups in technology for applications of equal
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strength.</p>
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<p>Furthermore, together with our <a
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href="/about/codeofconduct.en.html#CARE">CARE team</a>, we aim to
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offer a friendly and safe environment for every participant in our
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activities, both online and offline. Misbehaving can lead to
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exclusion from our organisation, our activities and/or our
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technical infrastructure, no matter the perpetrator's position
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and/or reputation within the organisation or the Free Software
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community. These commitments are not just words: in the past,
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breaches of the <a href="/about/codeofconduct.en.html">FSFE’s Code
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of Conduct</a> have led to such exclusions.</p>
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<p>In the interest of protecting the privacy and moral integrity of
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all involved, including our current or former employees, we wish to
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refrain from commenting further at this stage. Finally, we urge
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members of our community to refrain from personal attacks or
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pressure on any of the parties involved, especially on social
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2021-01-20 15:31:21 +00:00
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media.</p>
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<p><strong>Update 20 January 2021</strong>: the verdict about the
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legal case in front of the Berlin Labour Court was not appealed and
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is now legally binding.</p>
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2020-12-22 14:02:08 +00:00
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