83 lines
3.6 KiB
HTML
83 lines
3.6 KiB
HTML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
|
||
|
||
<html>
|
||
<version>1</version>
|
||
|
||
<head>
|
||
<title>Free Software Foundation Europe statement on a public post from 20 December 2020</title>
|
||
<style type="text/css">
|
||
.topbanner {
|
||
display: none;
|
||
}
|
||
.share-buttons {
|
||
display: none;
|
||
}
|
||
</style>
|
||
</head>
|
||
|
||
<body>
|
||
<h1>Free Software Foundation Europe statement on a public post from 20 December 2020</h1>
|
||
|
||
<p>22 December 2020 (Update 20 January 2021)</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>On 20 December 2020, a public post was circulated
|
||
about a lawsuit in which the author claims that the Free Software
|
||
Foundation Europe ended an employment relationship with a former
|
||
staffer. Although it is our usual policy not to comment publicly on
|
||
internal personnel matters for privacy reasons (our ex-employee has
|
||
not agreed on more detail), we felt it necessary to state
|
||
unequivocally that this post does not reflect the reality of the
|
||
facts and contradicts the verdict by the Berlin Labour Court.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>The court judgement of 19 November 2020 (reference number 42 Ca
|
||
5723/20) did not acknowledge any factual basis to the assertions.
|
||
Furthermore the judges concluded that our former employee's own
|
||
statements prove that she “neither experienced hostility, nor was
|
||
she offended, nor in another form intimidated or demeaned”.
|
||
Additionally they found, she received equal treatment, and that
|
||
“the boundaries of socially acceptable conduct” were “not
|
||
exceeded”.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Until the end of the proceedings, we do not wish to comment any
|
||
further. In the meantime we discourage speculation, the former
|
||
employee confirmed to us through her lawyer on 22 December 2020
|
||
that she does not support speculation about names and we respect
|
||
that wish.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Free Software is meant to serve everyone regardless of their
|
||
age, ability or disability, gender identity, sex, race, nationality, religion,
|
||
or sexual orientation. True to this principle, we pay our staff
|
||
based on their qualifications and performance, without reference to
|
||
any of the characteristics listed. To promote inclusivity and
|
||
equality in the Free Software community, our recruitment process <a
|
||
href="/news/2018/news-20180716-01.en.html#howtoapply">gives
|
||
preference to applicants</a> who identify as part of
|
||
underrepresented groups in technology for applications of equal
|
||
strength.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>Furthermore, together with our <a
|
||
href="/about/codeofconduct.en.html#CARE">CARE team</a>, we aim to
|
||
offer a friendly and safe environment for every participant in our
|
||
activities, both online and offline. Misbehaving can lead to
|
||
exclusion from our organisation, our activities and/or our
|
||
technical infrastructure, no matter the perpetrator's position
|
||
and/or reputation within the organisation or the Free Software
|
||
community. These commitments are not just words: in the past,
|
||
breaches of the <a href="/about/codeofconduct.en.html">FSFE’s Code
|
||
of Conduct</a> have led to such exclusions.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p>In the interest of protecting the privacy and moral integrity of
|
||
all involved, including our current or former employees, we wish to
|
||
refrain from commenting further at this stage. Finally, we urge
|
||
members of our community to refrain from personal attacks or
|
||
pressure on any of the parties involved, especially on social
|
||
media.</p>
|
||
|
||
<p><strong>Update 20 January 2021</strong>: the verdict about the
|
||
legal case in front of the Berlin Labour Court was not appealed and
|
||
is now legally binding.</p>
|
||
|
||
</body>
|
||
|
||
</html>
|