Social Media Policy
With regard to your presence online and on social media, The Podcast Academy (TPA) reserves the right to revoke the membership of anyone who posts or shares information that is confidential to the TPA or in violation of TPA’s Code of Conduct or Anti-Harassment policies. For the avoidance of doubt, this policy applies not only to the sharing of information on TPA’s social media accounts, but to members’ personal social media accounts as well. Please familiarize yourself with the Code of Conduct or Anti-Harassment policies. If you are unsure or need permission to post on behalf of TPA, please get in touch with our Membership & Communications Coordinator at info@thepodcastacademy.com.
DO:
Identify yourself as a TPA member and/or Board Member.
Re-post TPA press releases and industry news.
Re-post member postings that reference TPA.
Keep in mind that your words and actions online are not private and if you are interacting in the podcast industry space your words and actions can impact your membership status.
DO NOT:
Disclose information that is confidential to TPA this includes the contents of board meetings.
Post images of other TPA members without prior consent.
Make statements about TPA, board members, members, industry colleagues, or partners that could be considered as harassing, threatening, libelous, or defamatory in any way.
Post comments as a representative of TPA or our members unless doing so with prior authorization.
Auto-Renew Policy
The Podcast Academy offers auto-renewal as a convenient way to renew and ensure members do not miss out on any benefits.
Members’ credit cards will be charged on their anniversary of joining The Podcast Academy, if auto renewal is selected. One month prior to that anniversary, members will receive notice of the renewal along with an option to cancel auto-renew. Once charged Membership dues are not refundable.
Following their renewal, members will receive a payment confirmation via email as well as an email notifying and thanking them for their continued membership in The Podcast Academy.
Privacy Policy
We recognize the importance of protecting the corporate information you provide to The Podcast Academy. This statement outlines the information The Podcast Academy collects, how it uses the information and how you can control the information you provide.
INFORMATION THE PODCAST ACADEMY COLLECTS
We gather the following types of information to maintain our membership records, certification records, process your transactions and fulfill your requests.
Contact information you provide (e.g., your personal and/or business addresses, phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and titles).
Information you provide via applications, registration forms, profiles, surveys or purchase forms.
HOW THE PODCAST ACADEMY USES COLLECTED INFORMATION
We use this information to:
Maintain and digitally publish our membership directory.
Notify you of relevant products and services.
Notify you of upcoming events and programs.
Publish attendee registration lists for events.
THE PODCAST ACADEMY does not share, sell or trade e-mail addresses to third parties.
YOUR RIGHT TO CONTROL INFORMATION
Members – On The Podcast Academy Web site, which requires you to use your login and password, you may edit your contact and mailing information directly.
E-mail opt-out – You may opt not to receive certain e-mail communications from The Podcast Academy or third-party vendors through The Podcast Academy. Please contact The Podcast Academy at info@thepodcastacademy.com or use the unsubscribe option from the e-blast when you receive it. Please understand that once you have unsubscribed you will no longer receive said e-mail communication from The Podcast Academy which may include important member information, The Podcast Academy promotions, newsletters, etc.
SECURITY
We maintain security procedures and standards which we believe are as safe as today’s technology permits. We test these procedures and modify them regularly as new technologies become feasible. Credit information that you and credit authorizers provide when you make payments by credit card for products, dues or other services are encrypted and will only be used to process the transactions you request. This information will never be sold, shared or provided to other third parties. We do not request nor do we use social security numbers in the course of our business with our members or the public.
REFUND POLICY
Payments for membership dues and member socials shall be considered non-refundable. A cancellation fee for events will apply; see the registration form for additional details.
Please submit refund requests via e-mail to The Podcast Academy at info@thepodcastacademy.com.
E-mail cancellations must contain the following: First name, last name, email address, phone number and order description. Please provide all contact information so that we may contact you with regards to the refund.
BANK FEE POLICY
All wire transfer fees and/or bounced check fees are responsible to the payee.
You may contact The Podcast Academy at info@thepodcastacademy.com questions or requests relating to policies.
Anti-Harassment Policy
As adopted by the Board of Governors on April 7, 2021
Objective
The Podcast Academy is committed to building a community in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each member of the organization and employee who works for it has the right to exist in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits unlawful discriminatory practices, including harassment. Therefore, The Podcast Academy expects that all interactions be professional and free of explicit bias, prejudice and harassment.
The Podcast Academy has developed this policy to ensure that all its members and employees can exist in an environment free from unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation. The Podcast Academy will make every reasonable effort to ensure that all concerned are familiar with these policies and are aware that any complaint in violation of such policies will be investigated and resolved appropriately.
Any member or employee who has questions or concerns about these policies should talk with the Executive Director of the organization.
These policies should not, and may not, be used as a basis for excluding or separating individuals of a particular gender, or any other protected characteristic, from participating in organization-related business, social activities or discussions. In other words, no one should make the mistake of engaging in discrimination or exclusion to avoid allegations of harassment. The law and the policies of The Podcast Academy prohibit disparate treatment on the basis of sex or any other protected characteristic, with regard to terms, conditions, privileges and perquisites of membership or employment. The prohibitions against harassment, discrimination and retaliation are intended to complement and further those policies, not to form the basis of an exception to them.
Equal employment opportunity
It is the policy of The Podcast Academy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Podcast Academy prohibits any such discrimination or harassment.
Retaliation
The Podcast Academy encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination or harassment. It is the policy of The Podcast Academy to promptly and thoroughly investigate such reports. The Podcast Academy prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination or harassment or participates in an investigation of such reports.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment constitutes discrimination and is illegal under federal, state and local laws. For the purposes of this policy, “sexual harassment” is defined, as in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Guidelines, as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when, for example: a) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, b) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or c) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 recognizes two types of sexual harassment: a) quid pro quo and b) hostile work environment. Sexual harassment may include a range of subtle and not-so-subtle behaviors and may involve individuals of the same or different gender. Depending on the circumstances, these behaviors may include unwanted sexual advances or requests for sexual favors; sexual jokes and innuendo; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; commentary about an individual’s body, sexual prowess or sexual deficiencies; leering, whistling or touching; insulting or obscene comments or gestures; display in the workplace of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; and other physical, verbal or visual conduct of a sexual nature.
Harassment
Harassment on the basis of any other protected characteristic is also strictly prohibited. Under this policy, harassment is verbal, written or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs or negative stereotyping; threatening, intimidating or hostile acts; denigrating jokes; and written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group that is placed on walls or elsewhere on the employer’s premises or circulated in the workplace, on company time or using company equipment by e-mail, phone (including voice messages), text messages, social networking sites or other means.
Individuals and Conduct Covered
These policies apply to all applicants, employees, and members whether related to conduct engaged in by fellow employees, members, or by someone not directly connected to The Podcast Academy (e.g., an outside vendor, consultant or customer).
Conduct prohibited by these policies is unacceptable in the workplace and in any work-related setting outside the workplace, such as during business trips, business meetings and business-related social events.
Reporting an Incident of Harassment, Discrimination or Retaliation
The Podcast Academy encourages reporting of all perceived incidents of discrimination, harassment or retaliation, regardless of the offender’s identity or position. Individuals who believe that they have been the victim of such conduct should discuss their concerns with the Executive Director. See the complaint procedure described below.
In addition, The Podcast Academy encourages individuals who believe they are being subjected to such conduct to promptly advise the offender that their behavior is unwelcome and to request that it be discontinued. Often this action alone will resolve the problem. The Podcast Academy recognizes, however, that an individual may prefer to pursue the matter through complaint procedures.
Complaint Procedure
Individuals who believe they have been the victims of conduct prohibited by this policy or believe they have witnessed such conduct should discuss their concerns with the Executive Director.
The Podcast Academy encourages the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns so that rapid and constructive action can be taken before relationships become irreparably strained. Therefore, while no fixed reporting period has been established, early reporting and intervention have proven to be the most effective method of resolving actual or perceived incidents of harassment.
Any reported allegations of harassment, discrimination or retaliation will be investigated promptly. The investigation may include individual interviews with the parties involved and, where necessary, with individuals who may have observed the alleged conduct or may have other relevant knowledge.
The Podcast Academy will maintain confidentiality throughout the investigatory process to the extent consistent with adequate investigation and appropriate corrective action.
Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or discrimination or for participating in an investigation of a claim of harassment or discrimination is a serious violation of this policy and, like harassment or discrimination itself, will be subject to disciplinary action. Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be promptly investigated and addressed.
Misconduct constituting harassment, discrimination or retaliation will be dealt with appropriately. Responsive action may include, for example, training, referral to counseling or disciplinary action such as a warning, reprimand, withholding of a promotion or pay increase, reassignment, temporary suspension without pay, or termination, as The Podcast Academy believes appropriate under the circumstances.
If a party to a complaint does not agree with its resolution, that party may appeal to The Podcast Academy’s executive director or Board Chairperson.
False and malicious complaints of harassment, discrimination or retaliation (as opposed to complaints that, even if erroneous, are made in good faith) may be the subject of appropriate disciplinary action.