I am completely confounded by the series of choices UXPA International board has made over the past several weeks. If you need to catch up, here is Chelsey Glasson‘s ongoing (informed, even-keeled) analysis of what’s going on: https://lnkd.in/g_-DwPfG (I believe this is one example of what UXPA board is referring to as “people levying accusations”.) Chelsey writes: “Too often, organizations and their representatives respond to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and discrimination with silence, gaslighting, or vague communication. While its swift action in rescinding Eric Reiss’s Lifetime Achievement Award is laudable, the UXPA leadership team is perpetuating further harm in not directly acknowledging its mistake and the damage done, issuing a public apology, and thoughtfully discussing what it can do differently in the future.” Like … not so hard. I mean, *I* have had to do this in the past. It sucks, but that’s business. That’s being in community. That’s adulthood. In this instance, the appropriate reaction would be to hold a public forum in which the board of directors demonstrate *active listening*. This means two things: 1. Showing curiosity about others’ experience and perspective. 2. Validating their experience — which simply means saying, “Yes, it makes sense that you would feel this way.” Instead, UXPA leadership has responded to the wider UX community in no uncertain terms ... “Your feelings are wrong.” Feelings aren’t ever wrong. They’re just feelings. When you tell people they’re wrong, guess what: MORE BAD FEELINGS. Sara Mastro: Every single UX leader I can think of has signed their name to this open letter: https://lnkd.in/gA94BU2g If you aren’t comfortable having a conversation in an open forum, I am confident you’ll find people on that list who’d be willing to provide ideas about how you can move forward in ways that rebuild trust and respect, versus continuing to distance yourselves from resolution. Admitting “we made a mistake” doesn’t make you weak. It makes you brave.
Statement from the Board of Directors, UXPA International It has come to our attention that some UX practitioners are levying accusations against UXPA in relation to our announcement, and subsequent rescission, of the 2024 UXPA Lifetime Achievement Award. These accusations are being posted in very public forums, and some of these are libel, per se. UXPA International, as a volunteer-run, not-for-profit, professional trade association, has not and does not condone or promote any sort of abuse, harassment, mistreatment, or other such behavior, by anyone, towards anyone. UXPA’s criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award includes multiple nominations, a committee review of professional accomplishments, and additional references. Nowhere in the process was UXPA made aware of any of the allegations against the nominee who initially received the award. The moment UXPA was alerted to these allegations, we immediately rescinded the award. UXPA is not commenting on the relative veracity or falsehood of any of these allegations: that is not our role. Our only roles are service to our members and to the broader UX community. UXPA International maintains two separate policies related to the behavior of its members: · The UXPA Code Of Professional Conduct: this code governs the ethical behavior of UX practitioners as it relates to UX practice. Clauses like conflict of interest, anti-discrimination, and proper treatment of research participants are the hallmarks of this policy. · The UXPA Conference Anti-Harassment Policy: this policy governs the personal behavior of attendees at our international conference and other UXPA-affiliated events. It outlines steps for how UXPA will handle reports of harassing behavior from one attendee to another. These policies have been in place for years. Each has been enforced in the past, and will continue to be enforced. In the case of this individual from whom the reward was rescinded, no violation of either policy is known to UXPA. Recent events require the Board to review our nomination process for the administration of future awards. UXPA is working to expand that review, so that the unfortunate events of this year’s nomination process are not repeated. As part of that expansion, UXPA is committing to a period of public review, after nominations close, and before a Board Vote to select the recipient is held. UXPA will also continue to communicate our policies and codes pertaining to the behavior of our members and attendees and will continue to enforce such to continue cultivating a strong, supportive community for our members. As a not-for-profit we are dependent upon members and sponsors to continue UXPA’s educational offerings, publications and support of local chapters. The Board values the contributions of all of our members to this process and to the UXPA organization. We look forward to moving forward together. Respectfully, Board of Directors UXPA International
