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Chapter 17 - Grievance Procedures

Travis had implemented a system of grievance procedures that outlined general steps of actions that could be adapted on a case-by-case basis:

1. The discovering party will report the case to an assigned Harassment and Abuse Officer, who will work with the victim to ensure a balanced approach.

2. After step 1, the founding party should not be involved any further unless they are a Harassment and Abuse Officer or possess equivalent authority, or if the victim requests they are kept involved.

3. All available evidence will be recorded and the Officer/equivalent and the victim will keep a separate copy outside of the workplace.

4. The victim and the harasser/abuser will be as quickly and confidentially as possible separated from each other, and the victim arranged to be treated for any injuries, as well as to meet with a counsellor.

5. The victim will be asked how they would prefer to proceed, and particularly if there were any parties that they trust to be alerted and informed of the harassment/abuse, preferably a trusted family member.

5A. If a separate party is to be informed, the case will move to step 6.

5B. If there is no separate party available, or if the victim did not wish to inform a separate party, the case will move to step 7.

6. If a separate party is to be informed (such as another Departmental Administrator), they are to be contacted, the case explained, and consider possible solutions that may be worked out with them.

6A. If there was an acceptable solution that the victim also agrees to, the case will move to step 10.

6B. If there was not an acceptable solution, or that the victim does not agree to the proposed solution, the case will move to step 7.

7. If the victim agrees, they and the harasser/abuser will enter into a confidential meeting with a mediator to discuss their complications.

7A. If a resolution is reached, the case will move to step 10.

7B. If a resolution is unable to be reached, the case will move to step 8.

8. The victim and the harasser/abuser will enter into arbitration, where a Harassment and Abuse Officer will arbitrate the arbitration and decide on a resolution.

8A. If the victim and harasser/abuser agree to the decision, the case will move to step 10.

8B. If the victim and harasser/abuser do not agree to the decision, the case will move to step 9.

9. If the case is severe enough to warrant the involvement of courts, the victim will be arranged to meet with legal counsel and supported in whatever way possible throughout the legal proceedings.

10. Arrange with the victim for follow-up conferences to examine their recovery.

Travis used this system in the sexual harassment case of Darla Imni.

1. Travis decided not to take this up with an Officer, but instead the Department Administrator Lilian Rosemary.

2. Travis, being Guild Master and per Darla Imni's request, remained involved in the case.

3. A list of the grievances Darla had was recorded. A timeline of Jerald Outre's offences (with date, time and specific details) was copied, with Travis, Lilian, and Darla each keeping a separate copy.

4. Travis moved Darla away from the Adventurers Oversight Department under the pretext of the job rotation scheme.

5. Darla did not want to make a fuss, but she also never wanted to go back to being anywhere near Jerald. She also did not wish to inform anyone else of the case.

6. As there is no separate party to be involved, this step was skipped.

7. Darla did not feel comfortable being near Jerald again, and as such there was no mediation.

8. Darla did not feel comfortable being near Jerald again, and as such there was no arbitration.

9. Darla decided to resolve the case without the involvement of the courts but agreed to meet with legal counsel to further understand her rights for future reference.

10. A week after the transfer, Travis and Lilian conferred with Darla for a preliminary report on how she was doing. After being satisfied that she was not being mistreated, harassed or abused, they arranged a follow-up meeting a month from then. They also offered counselling services, but Darla denied the offer, noting that she was already getting better.

Secretly, Travis added Darla Imni to the list of people who may meet with him on a need-to basis rather than to arrange appointments with his assistants. While he allowed himself a nod for a successful resolution to the case, there was much more follow-up for him to do in his duties as Guild Master.