§ 1.7 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
   (A)   Lake County is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. Applicants and employees shall be treated fairly and equally. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable state and federal employment discrimination laws and made without regard to race, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran's status, political affiliation, or citizenship. In addition, the County will not tolerate any discrimination by anyone including, but not limited to, co-workers, supervisors, department heads, elected or appointed officials, vendors and the general public. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment. Any employee who believes that they have witnessed or been subjected to discrimination has a duty to immediately report the incident to the County Human Resources Consultant (219) 853-9782 in accordance with this policy.
   (B)   It is the official policy of the County to:
      (1)   Recruit, hire and promote for all job classifications without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran's status or disability.
      (2)   Base decisions on employment so as to further the principles of equal employment opportunity and in accord with the County's affirmative action plan.
      (3)   Insure that promotion decisions are in accord with the principles of equal employment opportunity by imposing only job related requirements for promotional opportunities.
      (4)   Acknowledge its intent to abide by this policy by including the words “Equal Employment Opportunity Employer” in all recruitment advertising, and on all County letterhead.
      (5)   Insure that all other personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, education, County sponsored training, tuition assistance, social and recreational programs will be administered without regard to race, color, sex, veteran's status, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, political affiliation or disability.
      (6)   Special meetings will be held at least annually with executive, management and supervisory personnel to explain the intent of the County's equal employment opportunity policy, and individual responsibility for effective implementation, and clarifying the County's position on equal employment opportunity. The date of these meetings will be recorded and specified in the County's EEO/Affirmative Action Plan.
   (C)   Any questions regarding equal employment opportunity, potential discriminatory practices or matters within the scope of County employment should be directed to the County Human Resources Consultant.