Equal Employment and Unlawful Harassment Policy
Equal Employment and Unlawful Harassment Policy
Employers Council is an equal employment opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race, sex, (including pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to breasstfeeding) color, genetic information, religion, national origin, disability, military status, sexual orintation, gender identity, or any other status protected by state or local law. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on any of these protected classes. Unlawful harassment includes verbal or physical conduct which has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. This policy applies to all employees including managers, supervisors, co-workers, and non-employees such as customers, clients, vendors, consultants, etc.
ADA and Religious Accommodation
Employers Council will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job.
Employees whose work requirements interfere with a religious belief may be similarly accommodated unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to Employers Council or a direct threat. Employees needing accommodation are instructed to contact their Department Director or Human Resources immediately.
Sexual Harassment
Because sexual harassment raises issues that are to some extent unique in comparison to other harassment, Employers Council believes it warrants separate emphasis.
Employers Council strongly opposes sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual conduct. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when:
- Submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment.
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for decisions affecting an individual’s employment.
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.
All employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and businesslike manner at all times. Inappropriate sexual conduct that could lead to a claim of sexual harassment is expressly prohibited by this policy. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, sexually implicit or explicit communications whether in:
- Written form, such as cartoons, posters, calendars, notes, letters, or e-mail.
- Verbal form, such as comments, jokes, foul or obscene language of a sexual nature, gossiping or questions about another’s sex life, or repeated unwanted requests for dates.
- Physical gestures and other nonverbal behavior, such as unwelcome touching, grabbing, fondling, kissing, massaging, and brushing up against another’s body.
EEO/Harassment Complaint Procedure
If you believe there has been a violation of the EEO policy or harassment based on the protected classes outlined above, including sexual harassment, please use the following complaint procedure. Employers Council expects employees to make a timely complaint to enable Employers Council to promptly investigate and correct any behavior which may be in violation of this policy.
Report the incident to either Human Resources, or the Chief Financial Officer, who will promptly investigate the matter and take appropriate corrective action. Your complaint will be kept as confidential as practicable. If you prefer not to go to any of these individuals with your complaint, you should report the incident to the President.
Employers Council prohibits retaliation against an employee for filing a complaint under this policy or for assisting in a complaint investigation. If you perceive retaliation for making a complaint or your participation in the investigation, please follow the complaint procedure outlined above. The situation will be promptly investigated.
If Employers Council determines that an employee’s behavior is in violation of this policy, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the offending employee, up to and including termination of employment.