HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - HARRASEMENT PROHIBITED8.2 Harassment Prohibited
A. The City is committed to providing a work environment that is free of harassment
and unlawful discrimination. Consistent with the City's respect for the rights and
dignity of each employee, harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by
law, will not be sanctioned or tolerated. In particular, it should be noted that:
1. Sexual harassment is strictly prohibited. Sexual harassment has been defined
by government regulation as any unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual
favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submission
to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an
individual's employment; when submission to or rejection of such conduct is
used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or such
conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the
individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive
work environment.
2. Harassment on the basis of any other protected characteristic is also strictly
prohibited. In general, harassment is any verbal or physical conduct that
denigrates or shows aversion toward an individual because of race, color, religion,
sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic
protected by law, and that:
a Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive
work environment;
b. Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's
work performance; or
c. Otherwise adversely affects an individual's employment
R Harassing conduct includes, but is not limited to: epithets, slurs, or negative
stereotyping; threatening, intimidating or hostile acts; and written or graphic
material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group
and that is placed on walls or elsewhere on City premises or circulated in the
workplace. Any individual found to have engaged in sexual or any other form of
harassment will be disciplined as appropriate, up to and including termination.
C. Any employee who believes she or he has been harassed in violation of this policy
by a co-worker, supervisor or agent of the City, or by anyone while working, should
promptly report the facts and the names of the individuals involved to her or his
supervisor or, in the alternative, to the Director of Human Resources. During non -
business hours, if the employee is unable to reach his or her supervisor, or if it is
inappropriate for the employee to contact his or her supervisor, the employee may
contact any other supervisor or manager in the employee's department to report
City of Fort Collins Personnel Policies and Procedures
Revised: September 15, 2003
Section 8
the incident and/or to obtain immediate emergency action. Any employee who
observes harassment is also encouraged to report the incident promptly.
[rev. 7/13/99]
D. Supervisors must immediately report to the Director of Human Resources all
complaints, observed incidents or suspected incidents of harassment in violation of
this policy. The Human Resources Department will promptly investigate all reports
and complaints of harassment as confidentially as possible and recommend
appropriate action. Police Services may investigate sexual harassment complaints
filed in the police department through established internal investigation procedures
after consulting with Human Resources staff.
E. A prompt and thorough investigation of the alleged incident will be conducted to
the extent possible, and appropriate action will be taken. To the extent consistent
with adequate investigation and appropriate corrective action, and to the extent
permitted by law, any complaint of harassment will be treated as confidential.
E The City will not in any way retaliate against an employee, potential employee or
former employee who, in good faith, makes a complaint or report of harassment,
or participates in the investigation of such a complaint or report. Retaliation against
any individual for reporting a claim of harassment or cooperating in the investigation
of such a complaint will not be tolerated.
City of Fort Collins Personnel Policies and Procedures
Revised: September 15, 2003
Section 8
8.3 Threats and Violence Prohibited
A. The City is committed to providing a work environment that is free of violence
against persons and property, and threats of violence. In furtherance of that goal,
the City maintains a strict policy prohibiting violent acts and threats to commit
such acts. This includes, but is not limited to, physical abuse, threats to inflict
violence on a person or property, direct or veiled threats, threatening remarks,
threatening behaviors, vandalism, arson, sabotage, and (except for police officers)
the use of weapons or carrying of weapons to work sites.
R Any employee who observes or hears of violent or threatening behavior associated
with the workplace or a City employee should promptly report the incident to the
supervisor or, alternatively, to the Director of Human Resources. Supervisors who
receive complaints regarding threats or violence in violation of this policy, or who
observe or suspect such threats or violence, should immediately report the
incident(s) to the Director of Human Resources.
C. Employees should call 911 or directly contact law enforcement if they
believe there is an imminent threat to the safety or health of any employee
or property. Any employee who contacts law enforcement must also inform the
supervisor of the incident and the fact that law enforcement was called as soon as
possible under the circumstances.
D. The Human Resources Department will promptly investigate all reports and
complaints of threats or violence as confidentially as possible and recommend
appropriate action. The City may, at its discretion, initiate the involvement of law
enforcement personnel when appropriate. The City prohibits retaliation in any
manner against anyone making a complaint of threats or violence in violation of
this policy.
E. Any questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Human Resources
Department.
City of Fort Collins Personnel Policies and Procedures
Revised: September 15, 2003
Section 8
City of Fort Collins Personnel Policies and Procedures
Revised: September 15, 2003
Section 8