Bridgeport Fire Department Sexual Harassment / Discrimination Policy PDF

Bridgeport Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures #003 I. SEXUAL HARASSMENT / DISCRIMINATION 03/30/93 PURPOSE A. It will be the policy of the Bridgeport Fire Department that all employees will enjoy a working environment free from all forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment. N...

Bridgeport Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures #003 I. SEXUAL HARASSMENT / DISCRIMINATION 03/30/93 PURPOSE A. It will be the policy of the Bridgeport Fire Department that all employees will enjoy a working environment free from all forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment. No employee, male, female or third party should be subjected to unsolicited and unwelcome sexual/discrimination overtures of conduct, either verbal or physical. B. Sexual harassment/discrimination lowers morale and is damaging to the work environment; it is also illegal. Therefore, the Bridgeport Fire Department will treat sexual harassment/discrimination like any other form of employee misconduct. It will not be tolerated and the Department takes a zero tolerance stand on this issue. II. RESPONSIBILITIES A. It will be the responsibility of all fire department personnel to be familiar with the contents of this policy. In particular, it will be the responsibility of all Supervisors to see that this policy is followed and rightfully enforced. B. First line supervisors or any supervisor will immediately investigate and document all complaints. Resolved or unresolved, complaints will be forwarded through channels to the Battalion Chief and on to the Executive Officer. Supervisors will promptly initiate forwarding this information through the appropriate channels, even if their investigation is not yet complete. C. It shall be the responsibility of all supervisors to ensure that all members on their particular shift review this policy by January 31st of each year. All supervisors will ensure department members have reviewed this policy and a 2326 (Departmental Communication) will be forwarded to the Training Division upon completion. D. The Department Executive Officer will thoroughly investigate all cases of alleged sexual harassment/discrimination. III. DEFINITIONS Inappropriate: Examples but not limited to: Not appropriate, Unsuitable, Unfitting, Unbecoming, Improper or Unacceptable. IV. PROCEDURES A. Specifically, it is illegal and against the policy of the Bridgeport Fire Department, for any employee, male or female, to sexually harass/discriminate another employee by: 1. Making acceptance of unwelcome sexual advances or requests of sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, a condition of an employee's continued Page 1 Bridgeport Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures SEXUAL HARASSMENT / DISCRIMINATION #003 03/30/93 employment. 2. Making submission to, or rejection of, such conduct the basis of employment conditions affecting the employee. 3. Creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment by such conduct. 4. The Bridgeport Fire Department will act positively to investigate any alleged sexual harassment claims or acts of discrimination and to effectively remedy them when an allegation is determined to be valid. B. Given the nature of the type of discrimination, the Department also recognizes that false accusations of sexual harassment/discrimination can have serious effects on innocent men and women. Therefore, false accusations will result in the same severe disciplinary action applicable to one found guilty of sexual harassment/discrimination. C. If an employee is intimidated in any way from forwarding their complaint through channels, they may circumvent the chain of command by reporting their complaint directly to the Executive Officer of the department. A meeting with the Executive Officer can be arranged and the meeting will be held in confidentiality if the complainant so desires. Employees also have the option of reporting their complaint directly to the Labor Relations Office. D. The City of Bridgeport revised and issued a sexual harassment policy in April 1999, which was distributed at that time. The policy can be found under “Policies” on the “K” Drive and a complainant may take advantage of the alternatives listed in that policy. E. No pornographic or other inappropriate material shall be displayed in the workplace, including members' lockers. This includes: calendars, pictures, x-rated videos, pornographic material on cell phones, computers, and laptops. Company officers will ensure that no x-rated or inappropriate movies are viewed on television or pay per view cable etc. No images or words of a sexual nature shall be accessed or received on computers through e-mails or on screen savers. F. V. Sexual / discrimination jokes, gestures and obscenities are also prohibited. FORMS REQUIRED A. Form 2326 (Departmental Communication) Rev. 10/28/94 Rev. 12/26/95 Rev. 07/04/08 Rev. 05/12/15 Page 2 Bridgeport Fire Department Standard Operating Procedures #003 SEXUAL HARASSMENT / DISCRIMINATION BY ORDER OF THE FIRE CHIEF Page 3 03/30/93