FY 2017 PWA Sexual Harassment Policy

 

United States Department of Agriculture

Research, Education, and Economics

Agricultural Research Service

 

August 3, 2017

 

 

SUBJECT: 2017 Pacific West Area Sexual Harassment Policy Statement

 

           TO:  All Pacific West Area Employees

 

     FROM: Robert L. Matteri

                   Area Director

 

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Administrator Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young disseminated a 2017 Sexual Harassment Policy Statement, dated June 20, 2017, informing each ARS employee, contractor, collaborator, applicant, and stakeholder that sexual harassment is a serious misconduct issue which violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and will not be tolerated.

 

It is the policy of ARS and the Pacific West Area (PWA) that sexual harassment violations will be acted upon, and any ARS employee found guilty of engaging in sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, including demotion, suspension, and/or removal. Preventing sexual harassment is the responsibility of each employee. 

 

What is Sexual Harassment?  The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment; unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance; or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. 

 

Examples of sexual harassment (not all inclusive) may include: sexual innuendoes and remarks about a person’s clothing, body, or sexual activities; physical contact of a sexual nature such as patting, pinching, fondling, brushing up against another person’s body, or other inappropriate touching or feeling; giving inappropriate looks; unwanted sexually-oriented jokes, remarks, or humor; sexual proposition, invitations, or other pressure for sexual favors; sexually graphic pictures; and sending unwanted emails, text messages, or posts on social networking sites.

 

Manager and Supervisor Roles Regarding Sexual Harassment

Managers and supervisors must be aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and of their responsibilities to prevent and deal with this serious form of misconduct. Online training is available through AgLearn, and videos are available at the ARS Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) here: EEO Video Library.