Inclusivity at ARIN: Building a Supportive Organization and Community
ARIN is committed to fostering inclusive and supportive behavior in all interactions. Recently, we expanded our inclusivity initiatives to better support a professional and collaborative environment for all members, customers, employees, volunteers, and the broader global Internet community.
Creating Welcoming Spaces
To ensure a positive experience for all participants in ARIN events and forums, ARIN has made several important updates to its meeting and mailing list practices:
- Enhanced Participant Standards: Our updated Standards of Behavior policy now incorporates reporting information and ramifications for violations, offering participants greater clarity and protection. Additionally, we have merged the Remote Participation and Mailing List Acceptable Use Policies with the Standards of Behavior to provide a more streamlined and consistent framework for participants. This ensures clarity and adherence to ARIN’s policies across all participation forums, regardless of the method of engagement.
- Practical Changes for Inclusivity: These changes include updating the policy for in-person events at which alcohol is served, clarifying organization-specific terms and acronyms, and prominently displaying the Standards of Behavior with reporting details easily accessible via QR code.
- Ombudsperson Services: Attendees of ARIN’s Public Policy and Members Meetings can rely on our on-site ombudsperson for conflict resolution and support — a critical resource for maintaining a respectful and inclusive meeting environment.
Ensuring Accountability
As part of these changes, ARIN is implementing a new Code of Conduct that applies to all ARIN volunteer groups. This policy — signed annually by each member of the ARIN Board of Trustees, Advisory Council (AC), and Number Resource Organization Number Council (NRO NC) — ensures higher standards of expected behavior across our organization. By emphasizing integrity and personal responsibility, this initiative strengthens ARIN’s commitment to professionalism and respect.
Partnership with Hinton & Company
Recognizing the need for expert guidance in further advancing our inclusivity and diversity efforts, ARIN engaged Hinton & Company beginning in 2023. In addition to providing ombudsperson services for ARIN Public Policy and Members Meetings, their work has led to numerous updates to our policies and several planned initiatives within the ARIN workforce. We have already completed revisions to the Employee Handbook, employment application, and onboarding materials to align with inclusivity goals. Based on Hinton & Company’s findings and recommendations, we are continuing our efforts by:
- Creating more virtual and in-person connection opportunities to bring ARIN team members together, such as periodic in-office events and our biannual full-staff off-site functions.
- Conducting inclusion training for both managers and staff, facilitated by an external vendor to help us strengthen cross-departmental connections and foster an inclusive work culture.
- Hosting a facilitated workshop in which staff provided input on ARIN’s Value Statements, with a focus on inclusion.
- Fostering professional development opportunities through succession planning for future leaders.
Championing Flexibility and Recognition
ARIN embraces flexibility through initiatives like hybrid work schedules, floating holidays for personal or religious observances, and extending benefits to employees’ domestic partners. These policies acknowledge and support the diverse realities of our team members’ lives and families, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
Looking Ahead
At ARIN, our people matter, and our global mission drives us to take supportive and deliberate steps toward inclusion. Having an inclusive environment ensures that ARIN can pursue our mission with access to the best talent among both employees and volunteers.
We look forward to sharing more updates on our inclusivity and diversity efforts as these initiatives take shape, and we welcome your feedback as we continually assess our progress and develop future goals. Please visit arin.net/contact/ to share your comments or questions.
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