May 16, 2008

SUBJECT:        2008 PWA Anti-Harassment Policy Statement

           TO:       All PWA Employees

     FROM:        Andrew C. Hammond  /s/

                        Director, Pacific West Area

All employees of the Pacific West Area have the right to work in a harassment-free environment. 

Harassment is any unwelcome verbal or physical conduct that degrades or shows hostility or aversion towards an individual on the basis of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age (40+), mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.  Retaliation against an employee for filing an EEO complaint or participating in the EEO process is also prohibited.

Supervisors, co-workers, or non-employees can be guilty of harassing behavior.  Examples of unwelcome conduct include, but are not limited to, sexual advances, abusive words or phrases, slurs or negative stereotyping, jokes, innuendos, threatening, intimidating or hostile acts, offensive gestures, pictures, or slang expressions. 

Employees should immediately address and resolve incidents of harassment at the lowest possible level, without the fear of retaliation or reprisal.

Supervisors and managers must act promptly and effectively to correct any harassment that does occur.  Any supervisor or manager who has knowledge of such behavior but takes no action to end it will be subject to disciplinary action.

Any employee in the Pacific West Area in need of assistance regarding a harassment issue should contact the ARS Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity at 1-800-340-4289 or 202-720-3410 within 45 days of an alleged incident. 

Harassment will not be tolerated.  All employees of the PWA must have the opportunity to perform at their fullest potential.  We must strive to create a respectful, harassment-free work environment, where the unique qualities and characteristics we each bring to the workplace are valued.