Positive Work Environment Task Force

[DRAFT] Statement of Principles

Status

The Positive Work Environment Task Force's objective was to develop a community statement of principles regarding how people working in the W3C community should treat each other -- e.g., with respect, with professionalism, fairness, sensitivity to our many differences and strengths, tolerance to differences, and by providing support.

A set of Procedures [member-only] accompany these Principles for use in the case where someone feels others in the community have behaved outside of the community principles.

This document is world-readable [22 September 2009]. It is still under development. We welcome feedback.

This document is a draft (although nearing maturity) of the Positive Work Environment set of Principles. It is owned by the Positive Work Environment Task Force. The content may change at any moment. The content has not yet been reviewed by W3C as a whole.

Introduction

To be a successful global organization W3C focuses on behaviors and values that will sustain professional work, productive interactions and ethical practices. Regardless of the differences the members of the W3C Community may have (language, location, nationality, experiences) we do have at least one thing in common: we're all working to achieve the Consortium's mission.

Principles

The Community Principles are intended to make the environment a productive and enjoyable place for all. This commitment calls for a workplace where the following beliefs are upheld:

 

1. Contribution. Everyone, without exception, has an important contribution to make toward the overall success of the Consortium's mission. Understand that when we do not contribute as expected and as committed, we often impede the ability of our colleagues to successfully contribute to the Consortium's mission.

 

2. Respect. This mission is best carried out in an atmosphere where contributors at all levels value each other and treat each other with respect, professionalism and fairness, including in situations of high pressure and urgency.

 

3. Sensitivity and Tolerance. Be conservative in what you do, be liberal in what you accept from others. (Postel's Law). Do your best to avoid offending the people with whom you are communicating. Be understanding of people who are communicating with you.

 

4. Support. Be proactive in handling issues when they are perceived, disarming the potential for misunderstanding, and generally supporting your colleagues. Contributors at all levels should be able to discuss issues of concern without fear that those discussions will result in any retaliation from somebody above or below them in the hierarchy.

 

5. Leadership. Roles change dynamically. Supervisors, Chairs, and others in positions of leadership will stand behind these principles and will consider themselves as role models in the promotion of a positive work environment, without in any way abdicating their responsibility to direct their collaborators to perform work effectively. Leaders will listen to suggestions for improving the work environment from all contributors, and take action to make reasonable changes.

  

These principles address foundational issues such as daily behavior and actions, the importance of reporting potential problems, and for leaders, the importance of welcoming concerns so problems can be handled in a timely and appropriate manner.

Coralie Mercier

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