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Harassment in the Workplace: A Proactive Approach

NCJ Number
134335
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 58 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1991) Pages: 29-30,32,34-42
Date Published
1991
Length
12 pages
Annotation
An overview is provided of the types of legislation prohibiting workplace harassment in police departments and the action and the remedies available to employees under these laws.
Abstract
Each statute applicable to workplace discrimination protects one or more groups of individuals on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, or color. Particularly applicable are the Federal Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the 14th amendment equal Protection Clause. Many State equal employment laws include an extension of discrimination prohibition in the workplace to matters of sexual orientation, although the main Federal legislation controlling workplace discrimination does not currently recognize this as a category of protected individuals. In order to successfully eradicate workplace harassment and minimize liability exposure, a police department should develop an agency policy that prohibits harassment in the workplace and which clearly delineates specific types of prohibited conduct and respective complaint procedures.