Standard 1.08: No harassment or discrimination
RBTs do not harass or discriminate against anyone, including clients and coworkers. They treat people fairly and inclusively regardless of characteristics such as age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other basis protected by law.
What it means in practice
Discrimination includes unequal treatment in service delivery (more patience, better session times or more attention for some families than others), refusing to work with someone because of who they are, and comments that demean a group. Harassment includes slurs, jokes about someone's identity and repeated unwanted comments or attention, in person or by text, email or social media.
The standard lists age, disability, ethnicity, gender expression/identity, immigration status, marital/relationship status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, "or any other basis proscribed by law". The list is broad on purpose.
Behaving "in an equitable and inclusive manner" is active, not only avoiding the worst conduct. If you witness harassment or discrimination at work, raise it with your supervisor or through your employer's reporting process, and document what you saw.
Scenarios
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| In the break room, coworkers start making jokes about a client family's immigration status. | Don't join in. Say it isn't appropriate if you can, report it to your supervisor or human resources according to policy, and note what was said, when and who was present. |
| You ask the scheduler not to assign you clients from a particular religious community. | Refusing clients because of their religion is discrimination. Withdraw the request and talk with your supervisor about any discomfort you have, so you can work on it (see 1.07 and 1.09). |
| You realize you have been giving the most convenient session times to families you get along with best. | Stop, and follow your organization's scheduling process so families are treated equally. Tell your supervisor what you noticed so any affected schedules can be reviewed. |
Practice questions
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Question 1While preparing session materials, a coworker jokes about a client's family's religion. Which response is most consistent with the RBT Ethics Code?
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B: Decline to join in and raise the concern with the supervisor. RBTs treat others equitably and do not harass or discriminate on the basis of religion or other characteristics (Standard 1.08). When they see conduct that conflicts with the code, they bring it to their supervisor.
- A: Joining in supports demeaning treatment of the family.
- C: Going to the family first is not the process the code describes.
- D: Demeaning comments about a client's religion conflict with the code whether or not the family hears them.
Task F.1 · RBT Ethics Code 1.08
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Question 2An RBT thinks, "Families from that neighborhood never follow through with home programs." What is this thought an example of?
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C: A stereotype that can bias the RBT. Assuming something about a person because of a group they belong to is a stereotype. Noticing such thoughts and checking them against each family's actual behavior is part of identifying personal biases.
- A: It is a generalization about a group, not a summary of any family's data.
- B: Responsiveness means learning about each family, not assuming things about them.
- D: A multiple relationship is a mixing of roles, not a belief about a group.
Task F.10 · RBT Ethics Code 1.07 · RBT Ethics Code 1.08
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Question 3During home sessions, an RBT notices the family's mealtime routines are very different from the RBT's own. The routines do not affect the client's goals. What is the culturally responsive approach?
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C: Respect the family's routines without judgment. Different is not wrong. RBTs keep personal values out of service delivery and raise only service-related concerns with their supervisor.
- A: Imposing personal preferences is not the RBT's role and disrespects the family.
- B: Session notes should be objective, not personal judgments about a family's culture.
- D: Goals should reflect the client's needs and the family's values, not the RBT's preferences.
Task F.10 · RBT Ethics Code 1.07 · RBT Ethics Code 1.08
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Question 4An adult client at a day program asks staff to call them by a new name and to use different pronouns. What should the RBT do?
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D: Use the name and pronouns the client asked for. RBTs treat others equitably and with dignity regardless of gender expression or identity. Using the name and pronouns a client asks for is a basic form of respect; the RBT can let the supervisor know so records are updated.
- A: Respectful treatment does not depend on a legal name change.
- B: The client is an adult, and this is their own decision about how they are addressed.
- C: Avoiding the client's name is not neutral; it is disrespectful.
Task F.10 · RBT Ethics Code 1.08 · 40-hour curriculum section G
Answer every question to see your score.
Where it sits in the code
Standard 1.08 is in section 1, General Responsibilities, of the RBT Ethics Code (2.0). On the exam it relates to task F.10 Cultural humility and responsiveness, task F.1 Core ethics principles. Read the official text for the exact wording.
Related standards: 1.07 Cultural responsiveness, 1.09 Personal biases and challenges.