Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment

Question 1

What is discrimination?

Answer 1

Discrimination is any and all slurs, insults, ridicule, epithets, anecdotes, or jokes, whether verbal, by gesture, or written pertaining to religion, race, national origin, gender, age, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, marital, or other protected status.

Question 2

What is Hostile Work Environment?

Answer 2

A workplace permeated with discriminatory intimidation, ridicule and insult that are sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment and create an abusive working environment.

Question 3

What is unwelcome conduct?

Answer 3

Unsolicited or uninvited conduct regarded as undesirable or offensive behavior which has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the members’ workplace, creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.

Question 4

What is conduct that may rise of harassment?

Answer 4

Verbal harassing conduct via intimidating, hostile, abusive or offensive unwelcome conversations, suggestions, requests, demands; physical contacts or attention (whether sexually oriented or otherwise related to a prohibited form of harassment); distribution, display or discussion of any written or graphic materials, including calendars, posters, cartoons, or names slandering character or reputation, showing hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of race, color, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status.

Question 5

To constitute a hostile work environment claim, all of the following must be present -

Answer 5

• The complaining party perceived the environment to be hostile or abusive.
• The harassment was motivated by the targeted employee’s gender or membership in a protected class such as race, color, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status.
• The harassment was so pervasive and severe that it created an offensive working environment.

Question 6

What is Sexual Harassment?

Answer 6

All unwelcome or unwanted advances, including sexual advances or unwanted sexual attention, whether between person(s) of the opposite or same sex.

Question 7

Complaint Resolution - If any member believes he or she is being subjected to any of these forms of harassment, or believes he or she is being discriminated against, the member must

Answer 7

bring this information to the attention of his or her supervisor or immediately notify the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Commander of the Professional Standards Bureau, or other member of the Sheriff’s Executive Staff.

Question 8

Pertaining to notification and complainant resolution, there is nothing that prevents a member from directly contacting who?

Answer 8

The Office of Human Rights location at the Pinellas County Courthouse to file a complainant.

Question 9

Complainant Resolution - The supervisor or other member receiving the complaint or otherwise being made aware of the situation that constitutes discrimination, sexual harassment, or hostile work environment must

Answer 9

immediately refer all allegations, complainants or concerns in this regards to the Administrative Investigations Division.

Question 10

Complainant Resolution - Whenever a supervisor becomes aware of conduct which potentially violates this General Order, even if the person who is the alleged recipient of improper conduct expresses a desire not to proceed further, the referral is

Answer 10

mandatory.