The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all employees are treated with respect, dignity and fairness while they are working for the agency. This policy applies to all employees – including students and volunteers – regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or any other status protected by federal law.
The truth is that for many people, the act of speaking to other human beings is fraught with anxiety. In the past, people have often tried to avoid this experience by going for long periods of time without social interaction.
But in the modern world, it is almost impossible not to interact with other people on a regular basis. There are hundreds of calls to action every day on our smartphones and tablets, so there’s no excuse not to be talking to someone every day.
Free Speech Therapy supports you in learning how to face your fears and successfully communicate with others by teaching you how to:
- Talk about yourself
- Ask for help
- Paraphrase what others say.
- React appropriately when someone asks you a question.
- Create a new topic.
These activities can be used in one-on-one or small group therapy sessions. They can also be used at home with parents and caregivers as homework. Many of the activities would work well in a classroom setting, either with a small group or with the whole class.
Employees are expected to treat each other with respect and courtesy and conduct themselves in a manner that promotes cooperation and productivity. Employees who engage in behavior that interferes with another person’s ability to perform his or her job duties will be subject to disciplinary action. Employees who feel that they are being subjected to hostile or discriminatory behavior should immediately report the incident(s) to their supervisor or the HR Manager. The agency will promptly investigate the complaint and take appropriate action.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Officer is responsible for processing all reported incidents of discrimination and harassment. The EEO Officer will investigate each incident and take appropriate action in a timely manner. The investigation will be kept confidential to the extent possible given the need to investigate and address the situation.
This policy is intended to supplement existing agency policies relating to harassment and discrimination. It also complements the Statewide Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. The agency’s EEO Officer will determine if any specific complaint constitutes a violation of this policy or any other agency policy.
Every employee has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in a work environment that is free from offensive language or behavior based on sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or any other status protected by federal law.
The employee code of conduct will be the standard against which all employee behavior is measured. The code of conduct is based on a set of core values that establish the ethical standards by which employees interact with each other, clients and visitors.
If you feel that you have not been treated fairly or respectfully by another employee (for example an employee calls you offensive names), you should tell your supervisor or another manager immediately.
If the problem isn’t resolved after you report it to your supervisor, then you may file a formal complaint with the Human Resources Department. The Human Resources will investigate your complaint and take action against the employee if necessary.