Postal Service Policy on Sexual Harassment

The United States Postal Service is committed to providing a work environment free of sexual
harassment.

Sexual harassment is improper and/or unlawful conduct that undermines the employment
relationship as well as employee morale. Examples of such harassment include, but are not
limited to, the following:

_ Making or threatening to make employment decisions based on an employee’s
submission to or rejection of sexual advances or request for sexual favors.

_ Deliberate or repeated unsolicited remarks with a sexual connotation or physical
contacts of a sexual nature that are unwelcome to the recipient.

_ A sustained hostile and abusive work environment so severe and pervasive that it
interferes with or changes the conditions of one’s employment.

Employees who engage in sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and
including removal.

If an employee engages in inappropriate conduct in the workplace, it may also violate the Postal
Service’s standards of conduct. Disciplinary action may result even if the conduct is not sexual
harassment under the law.

All managers and supervisors are responsible for preventing sexual harassment in the workplace
and must respond promptly when they learn of any conduct that may be sexual harassment.
Managers and supervisors must see that a prompt and thorough investigation of the conduct
takes place. If sexual harassment is found, they must take prompt and appropriate remedial
action.

Postal employees who believe that they are the victims of sexual harassment should bring the
situation to the attention of any supervisor or manager, or to Human Resources.
In addition, employees can seek relief through the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
complaint process, grievance arbitration procedures for bargaining unit employees under the
collective bargaining agreements, and the grievance procedures, where appropriate, under the
ELM for applicable nonbargaining employees. If pursuing an EEO complaint, you must contact
an EEO counselor within 45 days of the act(s) giving rise to your claim in order to preserve your
rights under federal law.

Report any possible criminal misconduct to the Postal Inspection Service.
The U.S. Postal Service will not tolerate sexual harassment.

William J. Henderson, Postmaster General, CEO
Postal Bulletin 21978, 8-13-98 Back to the