[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen
of the Town of Falmouth 5-13-1991; amended in its entirety 6-17-2013. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The Town of Falmouth is an equal employment opportunity and
Affirmative Action employer. The Town values the culture and background
of all people and believes that a diverse town needs a diverse government.
We are committed to complying with all applicable federal and state
laws regarding nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.
A.
The Town will make its employment decisions on the basis of merit
and without regard to race or color, sex, disability, religion, sexual
orientation, gender identity, marital status, military/veteran status,
national origin or ancestry, genetic information, or age and ensures
equal opportunity in the areas of hiring, promotion, demotion or transfer,
recruitment, layoff or termination, compensation and benefits, training
programs, and other terms and conditions of employment.
B.
Unlawful discrimination against employees occurring in the workplace
or in other settings in which employees may find themselves in connection
with their employment will not be tolerated by the Town of Falmouth.
Further, any retaliation against an individual who has formally or
informally complained about discrimination or has cooperated with
an investigation of a discrimination complaint is prohibited.
The Town's separate Sexual Harassment and General Harassment
Policy details our commitment to a workplace free of any verbal or
physical conduct which is unwelcome, severe or pervasive, and related
to membership or perceived membership in a protected class.
[Amended 12-16-2013]
Employees seeking reasonable accommodations for disabilities
may submit their request, in writing, to the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative
Action Officer (EEO/AA Officer) or Town Manager's designee. The
Town EEO/AA Officer is located at Town Hall and can be reached at
508-495-7330 and the School EEO/AA Officer is located at the School
Administration Building and can be reached at 508-548-0151 ext. 123.
A.
If an employee believes that he or she has been subjected to unlawful
discrimination, the employee has the right to file a complaint with
the EEO/AA Officer. The Town EEO/AA Officer is located at Town Hall
and can be reached at 508-495-7330 and the School EEO/AA Officer is
located at the School Administration Building and can be reached at
508-548-0151 ext. 123.
[Amended 12-16-2013]
B.
The EEO/AA Officer or Town Manager's designee will promptly
investigate the allegation in a fair and thorough manner. The investigation
will be conducted in such a way as to maintain confidentiality to
the extent practicable under the circumstances. The investigation
will include private interviews with the person filing the complaint,
the person alleged to have committed the discrimination, and relevant
witnesses. When the investigation is completed, the Town will, to
the extent appropriate, inform the person filing the complaint and
the person alleged to have committed the conduct of the results of
that investigation.
C.
If it is determined that inappropriate conduct has occurred, The
Town will act promptly to eliminate the offending conduct, and where
it is appropriate the Town will also impose disciplinary action.
A.
Affirmative action statement. The Town of Falmouth resolves to take
affirmative action measures to ensure equal opportunity in the areas
of hiring, promotion, transfer, recruitment, rate of compensation,
training programs, and all terms and conditions of employment. Such
employment actions will be on the basis of merit and without regard
to race or color, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender
identity, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin
or ancestry, genetic information, or age.
B.
Roles/responsibilities. To ensure that equal employment opportunity
and affirmative action are achieved through good faith efforts, the
Town has established various levels of responsibility to both direct,
oversee and implement affirmative action efforts.
(1)
The Board of Selectmen shall be responsible for the adoption of the
affirmative action policy. To ensure that the Town's personnel
policies and practices incorporate our objectives, the Board of Selectmen
delegates administrative responsibilities for the policy to the EEO/AA
Officer.
(2)
The EEO/AA Officer is responsible for establishing, implementing
and monitoring affirmative action efforts and for providing training.
The EEO/AA Officer has the responsibility to ensure that equal employment
and affirmative action receive a sufficient level of attention and
management support. The EEO/AA Officer will provide summaries and
updates on relevant issues as well as statistics regarding promotion
and hiring.
(3)
The Affirmative Action Committee is an advisory committee that is
also appointed by the Board of Selectmen and is responsible for reviewing
the Affirmative Action Policy and relevant programs. Policy is set
by the Affirmative Action Committee on a yearly basis in the month
of July and is submitted to the Board of Selectmen for its approval.
Policy will contain areas in which the Town can improve and goals
for the Committee to accomplish over the next year.
(4)
Managers are responsible for making sure that their employment practices
comply with principles in this policy and relevant state and federal
equal employment opportunity regulations.
(5)
Employees are responsible for bringing to the attention of the EEO/AA
Officer any decision that conflicts with the spirit of the law.
C.
Implementation of Affirmative Action Policy. The Town will implement
its affirmative action efforts by ensuring that all employment decisions
are on the basis of merit without regard to race or color, sex, disability,
religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military/veteran
status, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, or age as
outlined below:
(1)
Recruitment: will be on the basis of qualifications. All employment
advertisement and job postings shall identify the Town as an "Equal
Opportunity Employer." When advertisements are placed in the news
media and on the Internet, there shall be an effort to include advertisements
that serve minority populations. The EEO/AA Officer will act as a
liaison with employment sources and organizations serving protected
groups.
(2)
Promotion: will be based on ability and length of service or, where
applicable, subject to and in conjunction with collective bargaining
procedures.
(3)
Compensation and benefits: The Town will pay all personnel fairly
according to their job classification. The Town-supported benefit
program shall be made equally available to any regular-status employee
who works at least 20 hours per week.
D.
Dissemination of policy.
(1)
All prospective employees applying for positions will be advised
that the Town is an equal opportunity employer.
(2)
Copies of the policy will be available in the Personnel Office for
any employee to read, in addition to annual dissemination of policy.
(3)
The EEO/AA Officer will be responsible for the posting of information
regarding equal employment opportunity and of nondiscrimination laws
in places where policy and related materials are available to all
employees and prospective employees.
(4)
The EEO/AA Officer will act as a liaison with employment sources
and organizations serving protected groups.
