(A) The county will not tolerate racial or sexual harassment. Sexual and racial harassment are prohibited personnel practices and are against the law. Harassment is a form of employee misconduct that interferes with workplace productivity and wrongfully deprives employees of the opportunity to work in an environment free from a racially or sexually charged or hostile atmosphere. Offenders are subject to discipline, up to and including termination. All employees are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is free from all forms of sexual and racial harassment.
(B) Sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of behaviors, including sexual attention, sexual advances, request for sexual behaviors and other verbal, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Examples of sexual harassment may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Implying or threatening adverse employment actions if sexual actions are not granted;
(2) Promising preferential treatment in return for sexual favors;
(3) Subtle pressure for sexual activity;
(4) Inappropriate touching of any individual (e.g., petting, pinching, grabbing, hugging or repeated brushing against another employee’s body);
(5) Offensive remarks, including unwelcome comments about appearance, obscene jokes or other inappropriate use of sexually explicit or offensive language;
(6) The display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures;
(7) Disparaging remarks about a person’s gender;
(8) Spreading stories about a person’s sexual conduct;
(9) Questions about a person’s sexual activity;
(10) Physical aggression such as pinching or patting;
(11) Verbal sexual abuse disguised as humor;
(12) Obscene gestures;
(13) Horseplay or bantering of a sexual or off-color nature;
(14) Other actions of a sexual nature which affect the terms and conditions of a person’s employment; and/or
(15) Conduct or comments consistently targeted at only one gender, even if the content is not sexual.
(C) Racial harassment encompasses a wide range of behaviors, including racially based derogatory comments, taunting or treatment. Examples of racial harassment may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping or put-downs based on race;
(2) Materials such as cartoons or e-mails making fun or derogatory statements based on race; and/or
(3) Threats, assault or any physical interference with an employee’s normal work or movement, directed at individual employees, their relatives, friends or associates based on race.
(D) (1) The county considers prompt reporting of harassment to be a condition of employment. If an employee believes he or she has experienced or witnessed racial or sexual harassment, he or she must immediately report his or her concern to your department head/elected official.
(2) If an employee feels uncomfortable reporting to his or her department head/elected official, he or she should contact a staff member of the Human Resource Department, a staff member of the County Attorney’s Office or a member of the Board of County Commissioners.
(E) The county will not tolerate retaliation against any person who is the victim of or the reporter of racial or sexual harassment.
(F) (1) The county will investigate allegations of racial or sexual harassment and will take appropriate action against any person found to have violated this policy. County employees agree to co-operate fully in any investigation involving harassment, sexual or otherwise.
(2) Individuals who engage in racial or sexual harassment are subject to discipline, which may include, but is not limited to, reprimand, reassignment, suspension, demotion or other sanctions.
(Ord. passed 6- -2019) Penalty, see § 10.999