(a) The Village is committed to courteous and considerate treatment of its employees at all times as an accepted standard of behavior. Consequently, the Village is committed to a work atmosphere that is free of tension caused by demeaning or harassing conduct, including animosity engendered by inappropriate religious, racial or sexual conduct or comments.
(b) Equal employment opportunity laws identify two basic types of unlawful sexual harassment:
(1) Where submission to unwelcome sexual advances and other physical or verbal conduct is made a term or condition of an individual's employment, such as demanding that a subordinate accept a date with a supervisor in order for the subordinate to keep his or her job; and
(2) Where such conduct interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.
(c) Sexual harassment is specifically prohibited by the Village's policies. It is the obligation of each person to report any conduct which violates these standards whether he or she is the victim or not, whether the perpetrator is a supervisor, Councilmember, director, staff member or business guest and regardless of the sex of the perpetrator.
(d) Any violation should be promptly reported to an employee's immediate supervisor, to any supervisory person who the employee feels is the most appropriate under the circumstances, or directly to the Mayor.
(e) The Village Law Director and /or Assistant Law Director will immediately conduct a confidential investigation of any complaint, protecting the identity of the complaining party, witnesses and the individual alleged to have violated the policy, to the extent possible. A complaint made in good faith assures that the complainant shall be protected from any retaliatory action. Appropriate action will be taken if a violation of policy has occurred, up to and including termination of employment, as determined by the Mayor and/or Council.
(Res. 1994-150. Passed 12-14-94; Ord. 2017-83. Passed 12-13-17; Ord. 2018-32. Passed 3-14-18.)