APPENDIX W
SAMPLE POLICY PROHIBITING HARASSMENT

[Employer] is proud of its professional and congenial work environment, and will take all necessary steps to ensure that the work environment remains pleasant for all who work here. All employees must treat each other with courtesy, consideration and professionalism. [Employer] will not tolerate harassment of any employee by any other employee or supervisor for any reason. In addition, harassment for any discriminatory reason, such as race, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, or religion, is prohibited by state and federal laws, which may subject [Employer] and/or the individual harasser to liability for any such unlawful conduct. With this policy, [Employer] prohibits not only unlawful harassment, but also other unprofessional and discourteous actions. Accordingly, derogatory racial, ethnic, religious, age, sexual orientation, sexual or other inappropriate remarks, slurs, or jokes will not be tolerated.

Sexual harassment include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any other visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. Submission to the conduct is made with implicitly or explicitly a condition of the individual's employment.

2. Submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as the basis for an employment decision affecting the harassed employee; or

3. The harassment has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the employee's work performance or creating an environment which is intimidating, hostile, or offensive to the employee.

Each employee must exercise his or her own good judgment to avoid engaging in conduct that may be perceived by others as harassment. Forms of harassment include, but are not limited to:

1. Verbal: repeated sexual innuendoes, racial or sexual epithets, derogatory slurs, off-color jokes, propositions, threats or suggestive or insulting sounds;

2. Visual/Non-verbal: derogatory posters, cartoons, or drawings; suggestive objects or pictures; graphic commentaries; leering or obscene gestures; displaying or forwarding sexually explicit or pornographic material through e-mail or the Internet;

3. Physical: unwanted physical contact including touching, interference with an individual's normal work movement or assault; and

4. Other: making or threatening reprisals as a result of a negative response to harassment.

Any employee who believes that he/she is or may be subjected to objectionable conduct must report it immediately to [immediate supervisor, Executive Director, or board member] [or by using the Human Resources hot line - (give phone number)]. Do not allow an inappropriate situation to continue by not reporting it, regardless of who is creating that situation. No employee in this organization is exempt from this policy. In response to every complaint, [Employer] will take prompt investigatory actions, and corrective and preventative actions where necessary. An employee who brings such a complaint to the attention of [Employer] in good faith will not be adversely affected as a result of reporting the harassment.

Any employee who engages in objectionable conduct is subject to discipline up to and including termination.

Employee acknowledgement:

I have carefully reviewed this policy and I understand its contents. I agree to abide by this policy and understand that my conduct will be governed by this policy.

Print Name:__________________________________

Signature:____________________________________

Date:________________________________________