SERCAP is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, it is the purpose of this policy to effectuate these principles and mandates. SERCAP prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal provision of services and employment opportunities to both clients/program participants and employees/applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. SERCAP conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
Scope
The policy of equal service provision and employment opportunity (EEO) and anti-discrimination applies to all aspects of the relationship between SERCAP and its clients, program participants, vendors, subcontractors, and employees, including:
- Recruitment,
- Service Provision,
- Program Participation,
- Employment,
- Promotion,
- Transfer,
- Training,
- Working conditions,
- Wages and salary administration, and;
- Employee benefits and application of policies
The policies and principles of equal opportunity service provision and EEO also apply to the selection and treatment of independent contractors, personnel working on the agency's premises who are employed by temporary agencies and any other persons or firms doing business for or with SERCAP, Inc.
Dissemination and Implementation of Policy
The officers of SERCAP will be responsible for the dissemination of this policy. Directors, managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing equal service provision and employment practices within each department. The HR department is responsible for overall compliance and will maintain personnel records in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Procedures
SERCAP administers our equal service provision and EEO policy fairly and consistently by:
- Posting all required notices regarding employee rights under EEO laws in areas highly visible to employees;
- Advertising for job openings with the statement "SERCAP is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law;"
- Posting all required job openings with the appropriate state agencies;
- Forbidding retaliation against any individual who files a charge of discrimination, opposes a practice believed to be unlawful discrimination, reports harassment, or assists, testifies or participates in an EEO agency proceeding;
- Requires employees to report to a member of management, an HR representative or the general counsel any apparent discrimination or harassment. The report should be made within 48 hours of the incident; and
- Promptly notifies the general counsel of all incidents or reports of discrimination or harassment and takes other appropriate measures to resolve the situation.
Harassment
Harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination and violates SERCAP policy. Prohibited sexual harassment, for example, is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
- Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment;
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individuals; or
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.
Harassment also includes unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Harassment becomes unlawful where:
- Enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment; or
- The conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.
SERCAP encourages vendors, subcontractors and employees to report all incidents of harassment to a member of management or the HR department. SERCAP conducts harassment prevention training for all employees and maintains and enforces a separate policy on harassment prevention, complaint procedures and penalties for violations. SERCAP investigates all complaints of harassment promptly and fairly, and, when appropriate, takes immediate corrective action to stop the harassment and prevent it from recurring.
Remedies
Violations of this policy, regardless of whether an actual law has been violated, will not be tolerated. SERCAP will promptly, thoroughly, and fairly investigate every issue that is brought to its attention in this area and will take disciplinary action, when appropriate, up to and including termination of employment.