Community Code of Conduct

The Gold Card community is made up of talented professionals from all over the world, supported by staff from Taiwan Government Agencies. We strongly believe diversity is our strength and want to promote an inclusive and safe environment. To that end, we have a few ground rules for engaging in the community. The Taiwan Employment Gold Card Office (“TGC”) has adopted the following code of conduct (“Community Code of Conduct”) which applies equally to all community participants.

This Community Code of Conduct applies to all physical and non-physical spaces managed by TGC or authorized by TGC, including Facebook pages, YouTube channels, TGC sponsored events and any other forums the TGC community uses which are managed by TGC (“TGC Venues”). In addition, violations of this Community Code of Conduct outside of TGC Venues may affect a person’s ability to participate within them after appropriate investigation. Events may also have specific codes of conduct that apply to speakers and attendees.

We do not tolerate harassment in any form. If you believe someone is violating the Community Code of Conduct, please see our Reporting Guidelines below.

Gold Card Community Members Strive To

  • Be friendly, patient and welcoming. We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. This includes, but is not limited to, members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, colour, immigration status, social and economic class, educational level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, size, family status, political belief, religion and mental and physical ability.
  • Be considerate and respectful. Not all of us will agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for poor behavior and poor manners. We might all experience some frustration now and then, but we cannot allow that frustration to turn into a personal attack. It’s important to remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive one. Members of the community should be respectful when dealing with other members as well as with people outside of the community and with staff of the government.
  • Respect everyone’s privacy. Being part of this group requires mutual trust. People in our community are at the top of their field and have valued reputations. To allow everyone to feel comfortable, and so we can have genuine discussions about issues that matter, what’s shared in the group should stay in the group.
  • When we disagree, try to understand why. Disagreements happen all the time and the Gold Card community is no exception. It is important that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively. Remember that we’re different. The strength of our community comes from its varied members, people from a wide range of backgrounds. Different people have different perspectives on issues. Being unable to understand why someone holds a viewpoint doesn’t mean that they’re wrong. Focus on helping to resolve issues and learning from mistakes. It is important that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively and with the help of the community.
  • When we are unsure, we ask for help. Nobody knows everything, and nobody is expected to be perfect in the Gold Card community. Asking questions avoids many problems down the road, and so questions are encouraged. However, when asking a question, care must be taken to do so in an appropriate forum and manner.

We take the following very seriously, and any violations may impact your ability to participate in the Gold Card Community

Be careful with your words and actions. We are a community of professionals, and we conduct ourselves professionally. Do not insult or put down other participants. Harassment and other exclusionary behavior is not acceptable and should be reported. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Violent threats or language directed against another person.
  • Discriminatory jokes and language.
  • Posting sexually suggestive, explicit or violent material.
  • Posting (or threatening to post) other people’s personally identifying information (“doxing”).
  • Personal insults, especially those using racist or sexist terms.
  • Unwelcome sexual attention.
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
  • Repeated harassment of others. In general, if someone asks you to stop, then stop.

Reporting Guidelines

If you believe that the Gold Card Community Code of Conduct is being violated, you are being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the TGC staff immediately via phone or email.

To contact the TGC staff (“Staff”) who manage these issues use the following contact information:

  • TGC Helpdesk help@taiwangoldcard.tw ,  +886 2-7733-7660
  • In the Facebook group “Gold Card Family in Taiwan” you may privately message the administrator account HRD International. 

Process to File Complaint

  • Please report violations of the Community Code of Conduct at the TGC Venues immediately to Staff.

  • Please be prepared to provide as much of the following information as possible about the alleged violation:

    • Identifying/contact information of the person you believe is violating the Community Code of Conduct
    • Contact information of the complainant or the person who was the target of the violation
    • The behavior that was in violation, approximate time and circumstances
    • Other people involved in the incident
    • Whether or not you would prefer to have your complaint be kept anonymous in the situation

  • Staff will be responsible for notifying the alleged offender of complaint, investigating the complaint, determining the violation, if any, determining the appropriate penalty and communicating the resolution to the alleged offender and the target of the violation of the Community Code of Conduct.

  • Best Practices for participants:

    • You should not feel the need to engage directly or further with the alleged offender, the Staff is there to support you or bring in additional resources.
    • If you feel your safety is in jeopardy please do not hesitate to contact law enforcement.
    • When reporting the incident to Staff, try to gather as much information as available, but do not interview people about the incident.

  • Staff will assist you in writing the report/collecting information.

Staff Response Procedure

  • Staff are well-informed of Community Code of Conduct and response procedures.

  • Staff will gather details of the complaint to make an initial report, including:

    • Whether or not there is immediate or physical danger, in which case Staff should contact local authorities
    • Identifying information of the person accused of violation of the Community Code of Conduct.
    • The behavior at issue, approximate time and circumstances
    • Other people involved in the incident
    • Whether or not the reporting party prefers to remain anonymous

  • Staff will try to get as much information on the incident in written form by the reporter, or will otherwise record the information about the incident as it was told to them.

  • Staff will make an initial response to the complainant which will include:

    • Do they need help?
    • Do they need to be connected with a safe person, friend or family member?
    • Do they need a safe space?

  • Staff will make the complainant aware of the response procedure and next steps to feel confident action is being taken, but avoid the following:

    • Do not overtly invite them to withdraw the complaint or mention that withdrawal is OK. This suggests that you want them to do so, and is therefore coercive. “If you’re OK with it [pursuing the complaint]” suggests that you are by default pursuing it and is not coercive.
    • Do not ask for their advice on how to deal with the complaint. This is a Staff responsibility
    • Do not offer them input into penalties. In certain cases, it may be appropriate to ask complainant what it would take for the alleged offender to “make it right” such as an apology. However, the determination of any penalties, including restrictions on future participation in the TGC Venues is at the sole discretion of the Staff.

  • After taking any initial action required to care for the complainant, Staff will notify TGC Director, who will determine:

    • If there is a need to bring in legal counsel, authorities or additional resources
    • If public communications are required in the case of a public incident
    • If additional information gathering is required from witnesses, Staff or other parties

  • TGC Staff or TGC Director will notify the alleged offender of the complaint and allow for response as part of the investigation and before reaching conclusion or applying any penalty. In the meantime, the alleged offender and complainant (or target of the violation) should not have any contact.

  • Following the conversation, Staff will convene to review the available information and consider appropriate action, which may include:

    • Reaching a conclusion about a violation of the Community Code of Conduct occurred
    • Determining whether it is appropriate to ask/suggest that the complainant and alleged offender consider a joint meeting in the presence of a neutral third party to address their perspectives

  • Where violation of the Community Code of Conduct is found, the Staff may take any one or more of the following actions:

    • Direct the offender to cease the behavior and warn that any further violations will result in sanctions
    • Requiring the offender to avoid any interaction with, and physical proximity to, the complainant anywhere in the TGC Venues
    • Banning the offender from Facebook pages other communications channels controlled by TGC
    • Ending any volunteer responsibilities or privileges that the offender holds from TGC (either indefinitely or for a certain time period)
    • Requiring that the offender immediately leave a TGC sponsored event and not return
    • Banning the offender from future TGC sponsored events (either indefinitely or for a certain time period)
    • Notifying other government authorities about the violation

  • Staff will then inform the offender of what action, if any, will be taken against them.

  • Staff will then inform complainant (and other involved persons, to the extent appropriate) of the resolution, and record the outcome.

The Gold Card Code of Conduct is derived from the OpenInfra Foundation Code of Conduct, PyCon Conference Code of Conduct, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License, and the Django Project Code of Conduct.