Code of Conduct

In 2023, the Columbus REALTORS® Board of Directors approved a new Code of Conduct which outlines prohibited behavior as well as investigation, discipline and dispute resolution processes. This Code of Conduct applies to member interactions at any Association activity, including but not limited to conferences, conventions, events, meetings, and online spaces. Membership may be suspended or terminated for violation of the Code of Conduct. Below is the Code of Conduct.

COLUMBUS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® CODE OF CONDUCT

Purpose

This Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for Columbus Association of REALTORS® (“Association”) members, directors, officers, and other third parties with whom the Association does business, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior. This policy applies to any member or individual who participates in any Association activity in any capacity, including but not limited to participation or attendance at any conferences, conventions, events, meetings, and online spaces, or any member or other individual who interacts with any staff of the Association in any way.

Prohibited Conduct

The Association does not tolerate and expressly prohibits discriminatory, abusive, offensive, and harassing behavior. Examples of prohibited conduct include but are not limited to:

Offensive or unwelcome sexual flirtation, advances, propositions.
Verbal abuse of a sexual or racial nature or based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, veteran status, military status, disability, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other protected class.
Graphic or explicit commentaries about an individual’s appearance.
Comments, jokes, slurs, or suggestions about another person’s physical attributes.
Lewd or obscene jokes or gestures.
Leering, pinching, or patting any other individual.
Excessive use of swearing or profanity, or swearing or profanity that is threatening or used in an aggressive manner.
Unwelcome questions or discussions about one’s personal sex life, religious beliefs, racial or ethnic background, disability, and/or sexual orientation.
Open display and/or discussion of sexual relations between members.
Use of degrading, derogatory, or slang terms or slurs based on any protected class.
Always using first names or other personal greetings for members of one sex, gender, or race while using more respectful or formal greetings with those of other sex, gender, or race or deliberate misuse of a pronoun that corresponds with an individual’s gender identity or expression.
Verbal or non-verbal comments and/or behaviors that create fear, intimidate, ostracize, psychologically or physically threaten, embarrass, or ridicule.

Public distribution of private, personal communications or other materials shared with the expectation of privacy.

Reporting Procedure

If you experience or witness conduct you believe violates the Code of Conduct, please immediately report the incident to Chief Executive Officer Brent Swander at [email protected]. While written reports are preferred, you can also contact the CEO by phone at (614) 475-4000.

Investigation Process and Disciplinary Action

The CEO and the President of the Board of Directors will review all reported violations of the Code of Conduct. If the report involves a member of the Association, the CEO and the President will determine if further action is warranted and, if so, direct a prompt and professional investigation. All such investigations will be conducted by an independent third-party with direction and oversight from the CEO and the President (or another officer designee). If the report does not involve a member, the CEO will determine whether an investigation or other further action is warranted.

Upon completion of any investigation, the CEO will determine whether there has been a violation of this Code of Conduct and, if so, the appropriate response to address the violation. The responses applied depend on the nature and severity of the violation, and may include:

Requiring the individual to stop their behavior.
Requiring the individual to avoid further contact with certain other individuals in relation to Association activities.
Denial of access to future Association activities.
Denial of membership in the Association.
Terminating any contracts with the individual (or the entity associated with the individual).
Contacting appropriate law enforcement officials.

If the CEO determines that the violation should result in suspension or termination of a member, the matter shall be referred to the Board of Directors in accordance with the Columbus Association of REALTORS® Bylaws.

No one will be presumed to be in violation of this Code of Conduct because an investigation is being conducted. Upon request, the Association will notify the reporting party and/or the party who is subject to the report that the investigation has concluded.

For investigations involving a member, the Board of Directors may, by a 1/3 vote of the Board if the Board has a quorum, interview and question the investigator(s) and/or the CEO regarding the investigation and/or findings.

The process for suspending or terminating membership in the Association, removal of directors, and removal of officers is subject to the provisions of the Columbus Association of Realtors Bylaws. In the case of any conflict between this Code of Conduct and the Bylaws, the Bylaws shall prevail.

While complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, the Association will handle all investigations and reports under this Code of Conduct with discretion and with the aim of preserving confidentiality to the extent compatible with conducting an appropriate investigation.

All reports will be handled objectively, without prejudgment of any kind. If the report alleges any misconduct by the CEO or the President, they may not participate in the investigatory or disciplinary process and will be replaced by the next highest-ranking officer not named in the report.

Resolution of Disputes

If a dispute arises out of this Code of Conduct relating to the suspension or termination of membership in the Association, and the dispute cannot be resolved amicably, a member may initiate arbitration at the member’s sole cost within 30 days of giving the CEO notice of the dispute. Notice must be in writing and delivered to [email protected]. Any arbitration related to this Code of Conduct will be administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules (or similar rules then in effect).