Create coc-incident-resolution-ombuds.md #329
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TzviyaSiegman
commented
Jun 16, 2025
TzviyaSiegman
commented
- Procedure document companion to W3C CoC.
- This document will replace https://www.w3.org/about/positive-work-environment/#Procedures. It has been vetted by PWE and W3C Legal
* Procedure document companion to W3C CoC. * This document will replace https://www.w3.org/about/positive-work-environment/#Procedures. It has been vetted by PWE and W3C Legl
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Some very editorial suggestions:
- Cross-link at least the first instance of "Code of Conduct" to the Code of Conduct itself.
- Might also consider linking to Expectations and Discipline from the paragraph mentioning participant suspension.
- I highly recommend following https://rhodesmill.org/brandon/2012/one-sentence-per-line/ since it'll make changes to this document easier to track and understand. :)
| 1. Incident is addressed directly with the parties involved, if appropriate. | ||
| 2. A community member may report an incident to a Chair, Ombuds, member of Team or through an anonymous report where allowable by law. | ||
| 3. Incident is discussed by the reporter, parties involved, and those reported to. Impact is shared and a resolution is proposed. | ||
| 4. Ombuds will respond within two business days. |
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If the report went to a chair or member of the Team, is it the Ombuds who's going to respond within 2 days?
Also consider putting the 2-day response deadline before the incident is discussed.
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| The procedure for addressing an incident will include some or all of the following: | ||
| 1. Incident is addressed directly with the parties involved, if appropriate. | ||
| 2. A community member may report an incident to a Chair, Ombuds, member of Team or through an anonymous report where allowable by law. |
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Who is the anonymous report sent to?
"through an anonymous report where allowable by law" implies that sometimes the law forbids anonymous reports. Is that right?
| 2. A community member may report an incident to a Chair, Ombuds, member of Team or through an anonymous report where allowable by law. | ||
| 3. Incident is discussed by the reporter, parties involved, and those reported to. Impact is shared and a resolution is proposed. | ||
| 4. Ombuds will respond within two business days. | ||
| 5. Resolution at end of process. |
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What happens if not all the parties agree on the resolution?
| For incidents that have a clear path to resolution and low severity (for example, a harsh criticism in a meeting or inappropriate language), the focus should be on coming to a shared understanding of what happened and agreeing to a path to resolution, such as an apology, agreed understanding for changes, or editing a comment or minutes. | ||
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| ## Ombuds | ||
| Ombuds are neutral third party advisors to participants who can provide guidance, advice, and support during the conflict resolution process. Where appropriate, ombuds can help mediate a process, but the role is mostly to help parties navigate next steps. |
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Double-checking that you intend the ombudsfolk to be merely advisory and not have any decision-making power?
| How an incident is handled will depend on a number of factors including the type of incident, severity, frequency, and contributing factors. For example, has anyone been involved in incidents before? Is there a pattern? | ||
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| The procedure for addressing an incident will include some or all of the following: | ||
| 1. Incident is addressed directly with the parties involved, if appropriate. |
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| 1. Incident is addressed directly with the parties involved, if appropriate. | |
| 1. Incident may be addressed directly with the parties involved, if appropriate. |
I think? Since the incident may also be reported to some authority without directly confronting the parties involved.
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In the interest of something good is better than nothing, I think this draft (including all the changes suggested by @fantasai and @jyasskin, which I support) meets the bar to land and begin using and iterating in response to experience gained in usage.
I suggest @jyasskin file individual issues for the questions asked in review comments as I agree with the questions but do not see them as blockers to getting this landed and beginning to operationalize the ombuds program.
Thank you @TzviyaSiegman for all your work on this.
