County Employee’s Freedom From Reprisal
WHEREAS, reprisal for participation in the Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) process is prohibited by EEOC Regulation, 29 CFR 1614, which provides, “No person shall be subject to retaliation for opposing any practices made unlawfully by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination Employment Act, the Equal Pay Act, or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or for participating in any stage of administrative or judicial proceedings under those statutes;” and,
WHEREAS, reprisal, in addition to being illegal, has a negative effect on the productivity of work life, employee well-being and morale.
NOW, THEREFORE, I MARK C. POLONCARZ, Erie County Executive, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Erie County Charter Sections 301 & 302, do hereby order as follows:
1. It is ordered that the policy of Erie County to ensure that employees are notified of their right to discrimination protection, which includes being free to use the EEO complaint process without fear of retribution; and it is,
2. Further ordered that supervisors and managers are expected to renew their commitment to respect employees’ rights so that employees are empowered to report charges of discrimination without fear of reprisal; and it is,
3. Further ordered that any supervisor or manager who discriminates or retaliates against an employee is subject to disciplinary action; and it is,
4. Further ordered that any employee who wishes to file an EEO complaint of reprisal may contact the County of Erie, Division of Equal Employment Opportunity within 30 calendar days of the alleged occurrence(s) of retaliation discrimination.
GIVEN, under my hand and the Privy Seal of the County of Erie in the City of Buffalo this ninth day of March, in the year two thousand twelve.
County of Erie
By: __________________________
Mark C. Poloncarz
Erie County Executive