(A) It is the policy of the city that all employees shall enjoy a work environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment. All employees, including supervisors and managers, will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge, for any sexual harassment behavior, or other forms of harassment or discrimination.
(B) Any employee who believes he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment or other forms of discrimination or harassment should immediately report the incident or alleged occurrence to his or her department head. In order for the company to take appropriate actions, the city must be notified about the incident. If the complaint involves the head of the employee’s department, the employee should make the report to the Mayor’s assistant/secretary.
(C) The department head or Mayor’s assistant/secretary shall promptly investigate a complaint of sexual harassment or other forms of discrimination or harassment. Every effort will be made to handle all complaints in a fair, impartial, and efficient manner. In order to protect both the person making the complaint and the person or persons against whom the complaint is made, every reasonable effort will be made to handle all complaints in a confidential and discreet manner. If an employee is not satisfied with the way a complaint is handled, he or she should bring this to the attention of the Mayor. In all cases, the employee will be advised of the conclusion of the investigation.
(D) No employee shall willfully bring forth or threaten to bring forth a false accusation of sexual harassment or other forms of harassment or discrimination contemplated solely to damage, harm, “get even with”, or otherwise intimidate a co-worker, supervisor or manager. False accusations will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. In addition, failure to notify the city of a complaint or sexual harassment or other forms of harassment or discrimination, then subsequently bringing suit against the city will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
(E) Retaliatory action or conduct of any kind taken by any member of the city against an employee who files a complaint of sexual harassment or other forms of harassment or discrimination and/or an employee who is a witness to the alleged conduct is strictly prohibited. Retaliatory action shall be regarded as a separate and distinct violation of the city’s policies. Any employee who violates this section is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
(Ord. 00-05, passed 4-10-00; Am. Ord. 08-24, passed 10-27-08)