Proposed April 5, 1994

Approved April 5, 1994

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

It is Bullitt County Public Library Board of Trustees policy that all employees are responsible for assuring that the workplace is free from sexual harassment. Because of the company's strong disapproval of offensive or inappropriate sexual behavior at work, all employees must avoid any action or conduct which could be viewed as sexual harassment, including:

a. unwelcome sexual advances;

b. requests for sexual acts or favors;

c. granting or denying job benefits based on receptivity to sexual advances; and

d. other verbal or physical conduct of a sexually harassing nature that has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating hostile or offensive working environment.

Any employee who has a complaint of sexual harassment at work by anyone, including supervisors, co-workers, or visitors must bring the problem to the attention of their supervisor, director, or the assistant director.

All complaints will be promptly and carefully investigated by the administration, and all employees are assured they will be free of any and all reprisal or retaliation from filing such complaints.

An administrative investigation will include interviews with all relevant persons including the complainant, the accused, and other potential witnesses. In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes sexual harassment, the record as a whole and the totality of the circumstances, such as the nature of sexual advances and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred will be examined. A determination of appropriate action will be made from the facts, on a case by case basis.

All employees should be aware that the privacy of the charging party and the person accused of sexual harassment will be kept strictly confidential.

The Administration will review the finding with the complainant at the conclusion of its investigation. If the investigation reveals that the complaint appears to be valid, immediate and appropriate corrective action, up to and including discharge, will be taken to stop the harassment and prevent its reoccurrence. If the validity of the complaint cannot be determined, immediate and appropriate action will be taken to assure all parties are reacquainted with the sexual harassment policy and to avoid sexual harassment in the future.

Any finding can be appealed to the Bullitt County Board of Trustees using the existing grievance policy.

If a complaint involves a member of the administration, then a written request should be made to the President of the Board of Trustees to establish a committee to investigate the complaint.

Prevention is the best tool for the elimination of sexual harassment. The Library Board and Administration express strong disapproval of any acts that can be construed as an act of sexual harassment of any library employee or member of the public using the library.