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Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Survivor Support

The League of American Orchestras encourages its members to follow best practices in responding to reports from survivors and their allies, and in building the inclusive and supportive cultures that protect against harm. Please read the League’s public message on this topic, and explore the links and resources on this page.

Resources for Survivors and Allies

RAINN provides 24/7 support through its National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) and online live chat.

The #NotMe app enables workers to report sexual misconduct anonymously, even if their organization is not affiliated with it.   

Right To Be offers resources to support survivors in considering how best to respond to workplace harassment and in healing from harm.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides a clear statement of next steps for anyone who has been harassed at work. RAINN’s website offers a helpful link to current laws in each state.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers an extensive list of mental health resources for BIPOC survivors, while Rise provides resources specifically for AAPI survivors.

FORGE provides direct support for transgender survivors of sexual assault, together with bespoke publications, training, and toolkits.

MaleSurvivor offers hope, healing and support for men who are survivors of sexual assault, while RAINN offers a full range of relevant resources.

Allies will find clear and helpful explanations of how to listen to and support victims of sexual misconduct on the websites of RAINN and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Allies can also explore options for intervening in an incident through the 5 Ds of Bystander Intervention and free trainings offered by Right To Be, and read a short guide on this topic from RAINN.

Building a Safe and Inclusive Workplace

All Voices, tequitable and #NotMe are all examples of employee relations platforms that include anonymous reporting hotlines for employees.

The Nonprofit Risk Management Center provides practical tips for member nonprofits developing or updating workplace conduct policies in its Sexual Harassment Prevention Toolkit.

The Society of Human Resources Management also publishes 10 Tips for Improving Workplace Inclusion.

Workplaces Respond to Domestic & Sexual Violence – a National Resource Center provides tools for employers and managers, including a Model Workplace Policy, Best Practices for Systems Change and Training, and multiple Guides such as Union Education, Training and Support and Addressing the impact of trauma in the workplace.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides best practices focused on the role of organizational leadership, and the significance of effective policies, complaint systems, and training.

The article It’s Time for Nonprofit Boards to Have a Conversation about Sexual Misconduct challenges board members to ask themselves whether they are doing enough to provide leadership and guidance about organizational values, policies and expectations; and how they are ensuring that they themselves do not risk becoming part of the problem.

The Harvard Business Review outlines How Masculinity Contests Undermine Organizations and What to Do About It, and What Fragile Masculinity Looks Like at Work. Hacking HR provides a set of practical tips for challenging and redefining masculinity in the workplace.

Finding Guidance and Training for Your Orchestra

The League of American Orchestras offers a 10% member discount for services from NonProfit HR, the country’s leading firm focused entirely on the talent management needs of the social sector.   

The Society for Human Resource Management offers an Ask an Advisor service for members, along with training opportunities, online resources, and community forums. Annual membership as of 2024 is $264.

Right To Be offers Bystander Intervention in the Workplace trainings for organizations, aligned with your mission and values.            

Soteria SolutionsBringing in the Bystander training also teaches bystanders how to safely intervene in situations where an incident may be occurring or where there may be risk.    

A Call to Men offers open organization-focused trainings and events each month, custom workshops, and consultancy aimed at developing customized, strategic approaches to achieving workplace equity.

There are many providers of online and in-person sexual harassment prevention training. 501cServices offers free training for nonprofits. Other providers include the Clear Law Institute and the Alliance of Resident Theaters New York. Training provision is mandated by law in the states of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, New York, and Washington.

League member orchestras that participated in the League’s 2023 Inclusion Index have received customized reports, offering thorough analyses of inclusion and belonging, capturing the experiences of musicians and staff members separately. Recipients also have access to a webinar recording aimed at aiding interpretation, and our partners Accordant Advisors are available for further consultation. Look out for future opportunities to engage with and participate in upcoming iterations of the Inclusion Index.

Understanding Sexual Misconduct

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center guide About Sexual Assault offers a primer on the full range of behaviors constituting sexual misconduct, along with statistics documenting elevated levels of misconduct affecting LGBTQ+ communities.

BIPOC communities also experience higher instances of sexual misconduct than White communities, and may be prevented – by systemic racism, oppression and historical trauma – from reporting it. The National Center on Violence against Women in the Black Community shares statistics about the high levels of sexual assault experienced by Black women, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault outlines those relating to Hispanic/Latinx women, and AAPI Women Lead documents those relating to Asian American and Pacific Islander women.

Find articles on sexual misconduct in the classical music world through the League of American Orchestras’ online publication, Symphony.

Dignity at Work: Discrimination in the Music Sector from the UK’s Independent Society of Musicians explores how discrimination is often used as a mechanism to exhibit power and control over others who are often younger, female and trying to establish their career in music.

Supporting Healthy Masculinity at Work

Men looking for support and community in working towards healthy, respectful masculinity can access resources from A Call To Men, including an Introduction to Healthy Manhood and guidance on becoming a better ally.    

The ManKind Project also supports men in developing their emotional maturity, accountability, and compassion, through trainings and a global network of facilitated peer groups.

Men concerned about their own impulses and behavior around anger, control and / or abuse can contact the Men’s Resource Center, which provides self-assessments, training, and therapy.

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