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ORD-2025 -030 � � •J � gl4l�j Attachment 1 <br /> Sec . 2842 . Workplace harassment . <br /> ( a ) General. Every person is entitled to the right to work in an environment free from the damaging effects of <br /> unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment . Therefore, it is the policy of Orange County Government <br /> that unlawful harassment will not be tolerated . Orange County affirms its commitment to take appropriate <br /> action against individuals engaging in unlawful harassment, and against supervisory and managerial <br /> personnel who knowingly allow it to continue . <br /> ( b ) Definition. Workplace harassment infringes on an employee' s right to a safe and secure work environment . <br /> This policy prohibits harassment in the workplace as related to a person ' s race, religion, color, national <br /> origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by law, including sexual harassment . <br /> Orange County will take appropriate action to address any violations of this policy Harassment includes any <br /> unwelcome verbal , physical and visual conduct intended to demean, ridicule, degrade, offend, or intimidate <br /> another person . <br /> ( 1 ) Conduct constitutes workplace harassment when : <br /> a . Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of <br /> employment; or <br /> b . Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment <br /> decisions affecting such an individual ; or <br /> c . Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual 's work <br /> performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment . <br /> ( 2 ) Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or <br /> physical conduct of a sexual nature . Examples of sexual harassment may include, but are not limited to, <br /> intentional physical contact ( touching, patting, pinching), verbal abuse ( offensive jokes, requests for <br /> sexual favors, demeaning statements ) and taking employment action on the basis of sexual <br /> consideration . Sexual harassment does not include conduct welcomed by the recipient, or social <br /> interactions and relationships entered into freely by County applicants or employees . <br /> ( c) Complaint Procedure. <br /> ( 1 ) Any employee or applicant who feels they have been the subject of workplace harassment or any <br /> employee who has witnessed an incident of workplace harassment should make an immediate report <br /> to the Orange County Human Resources Director, without fear of retaliation . <br /> a . The Human Resources Department is located at 131 W . Margaret Lane, 3 'd Floor, Hillsborough , <br /> NC 27278 . <br /> b . Use of this compliant process does not preclude anyone from filing a complaint with an outside <br /> agency such as the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . <br /> ( 2 ) Orange County will not permit retaliation of any kind against anyone who makes or purses a complaint <br /> of workplace harassment, or against anyone who participates in an investigation of a complaint . <br /> ( 3 ) This complaint procedure is intended to ensure that concerns about harassment are addressed <br /> uniformly and directly, and that complaints are investigated in a matter fair to all involved parties . <br /> ( d ) Complaint Review. <br /> ( 1 ) When any grievance or complaint of workplace harassment is received, a prompt and impartial <br /> investigation will be made . The investigation will include including a review of the entire record and the <br /> totality of the circumstances to determine if any sexual harassment occurred, including, but not limited <br /> to questions to the complainant, the alleged offender, and any witnesses . <br />