(a) Reporting Discrimination, Harassment or Retaliation: Any employee or applicant for employment who believes that he or she is a victim of discrimination, harassment or retaliation should report such incidents to one or more of the following:
The Village of Woodmere Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer
The Village of Woodmere Law Director
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC)
A formal or informal complaint may be made with any or all of the following:
The Village of Woodmere EEO Officer or Law Director within six (6) months of the last act of employment discrimination.
EEOC within three hundred (300) days of the last act of discrimination. (http://www.eeoc.gov) OCRC within six (6) months of the last act of discrimination. (http://crc.ohio.gov) The filing of a complaint with one of the preceding entities does not mean that a person cannot or should not file a complaint with all of the preceding agencies. A complaint does not have to be filed with the Village of Woodmere prior to filing a charge or complaint with the EEOC or the OCRC.
(b) Investigation Process for Complaints Filed with the Village of Woodmere EEO Officer: A complaint may be made with the Village of Woodmere EEO Officer within six (6) months of the alleged discriminatory act. The individual may elect either to make a complaint orally to the EEO Officer or the Village of Woodmere Law Director, or to complete an EEO Discrimination Complaint Form and submit it to the EEO Officer. The names and contact information for the current EEO Officer and Law Director shall be posted on the Village of Woodmere’s website and in Village Hall. A copy of the complaint form is attached to this chapter as Exhibit “A”.
The EEO Officer may conduct a formal investigation of the complaint. In most circumstances, the EEO Officer will render a decision within thirty (30) days of the filing of the complaint whether probable cause exists to believe that an act of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation occurred.
The complainant may request a hearing within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of the findings through the EEO Officer if he or she is not satisfied with the EEO Officer’s decision. Written request must be sent to:
Village of Woodmere
Equal Employment Opportunity Officer
27899 Chagrin Blvd Woodmere Village, Ohio 44122
The EEO Officer will select a hearing officer to preside over the proceedings and to render a decision on the case. The Village of Woodmere will have thirty (30) days to act on the decision of the hearing officer, if any action is required. The complainant may request a final review of the decision by the EEO Officer (regardless of whether a complaint has been filed with the EEO Officer) if he or she is not satisfied with the hearing officer’s decision.
(c) Investigatory Processes for Complaints Filed with EEOC and/or OCRC:
A complaint can be filed with OCRC within six (6) months and/or with EEOC within 300 days of the most recent incident of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Complaints filed with EEOC and/or OCRC will be processed by the applicable enforcement agency.
(d) Supervisory and Management Reporting Requirements: When a supervisor or management employee witness, is notified of, or otherwise becomes aware of offensive conduct that is based on membership in a protected class as defined herein, the supervisor or manager must report the conduct to the Village of Woodmere EEO Officer or the Law Director. Reporting under this requirement is mandatory, not discretionary, and full disclosure of all information known to the supervisor or management employee about the incident is required. (Ord. 2008-85. Passed 11-19-08.)