Chapter 280 – Employees Generally

Employment of Members: see Section (A)(2) of Chapter 219.

A. Whistleblower Policy

A whistleblower as defined by this policy is an employee of the Seattle Tennis Club who reports an activity that he or she considers to be illegal or dishonest to one or more of the parties specified in this Policy. The whistleblower is not responsible for investigating the activity or for determining fault or corrective measures; appropriate management officials are charged with these responsibilities. Examples of illegal or dishonest activities are violations of federal, state or local laws; billing for services not performed or for goods not delivered; and other fraudulent financial reporting.

If an employee has knowledge of or a concern of illegal or dishonest fraudulent activity, the employee is to contact his or her immediate supervisor or the Appropriate Club Representative, as defined below. The employee must exercise sound judgment to avoid baseless allegations. An employee who intentionally files a false report of wrongdoing will be subject to discipline up to and including termination.

The "Appropriate Club Representative" means the Director of Human Resources, provided that (i) if the whistleblower reasonably believes that reporting to the Director of Human Resources is inappropriate in the circumstances, the whistleblower may instead choose either the General Manager or the Director of Finance to be the "Appropriate Club Representative" and (ii) if the whistleblower resonably believes that reporting to any of the foregoing is inappropriate in the circumstances, the whistleblower may instead choose the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees as the "Appropriate Club Representative."

Whistleblower protections are provided in two important areas - confidentiality and against retaliation. Insofar as possible, the confidentiality of the whistleblower will be maintained. However, identity may have to be disclosed to conduct a thorough investigation, to comply with the law and to provide accused individuals their legal rights of defense.

The Club will not retaliate against a whistleblower. This includes, but is not limited to, protection from retaliation in the form of an adverse employment action such as termination, compensation decreases, or poor work assignments and threats of physical harm. Any whistleblower who believes he or she is being retaliated against must contact the Appropriate Club Representative immediately. The right of a whistleblower for protection against retaliation does not include immunity for any personal wrongdoing that is alleged and investigated. All reports of illegal and dishonest activities will be promptly submitted to the Appropriate Club Representative who is responsible for investigating and coordinating corrective action. Employees with any questions regarding this policy should contact Human Resources.

B. Scholarship Program

The Club sponsors a scholarship program funded by donations from the membership. Employees in all classifications may be eligible for the program and the educational goals are broadly defined to include trade, undergraduate, and graduate school.

Donations to the scholarship program are not tax-deductible.

The program is administered by the Scholarship Committee.

C. "Business Comp" Privileges

See Chapter 240.

Covid-19 Response: After the Club was closed, effective March 13, 2020, the Club paid its employees substantially all of the compensation that they would have received had the Club not been closed, continuing through the end of April. “Employees” included salaried and hourly employees, full- and the principal part-time workers, and individuals whose primary work was providing services for the Club though they might have been classified as contractors [3/12/20, 4/18/20].
From May 1, 2020, all employees other than 20 essential managers and other employees were furloughed. [4/18/20] There was a 10% reduction in compensation for retained managers from May 1 through June 15, 2020 [4/18/20, 7/23/20].

8/26/22: Chapter 280 approved by the Board, modifying the version approved on 7/28/22 by adding additional "Appropriate Club Representatives" to whom a whistleblower may make a report.