MUNSTER | The Munster Town Council has approved an amendment to the town's personnel rules dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace.
In conjunction with that, the town’s insurance now covers incidents of sexual harassment, and the extra insurance has been added at no additional premium charge.
"The town’s insurance provider, Arthur J. Gallagher, provided language to enhance our sexual harassment policy contained in our personnel manual,” said Clay Johnson, assistant town manager.
“The language goes into greater detail about the definition of sexual harassment, who can be affected and how incidents should be reported.”
Originally, the policy read that employees should go first to their supervisor and then through a chain of command.
The council reviewed the amendment language and suggested consolidating the reporting of incidents of sexual harassment to a single compliance officer.
The approved amendment reflects that suggestion and states the compliance officer will be the town manager or someone he designates.
If the person reporting the incident isn’t comfortable reporting to the compliance officer or has a claim against the town manager, he or she may report to the president of the Munster Town Council, according to the new amendment language.
Johnson said the policy doesn’t address harassment based on disabilities or race.
However, Town Attorney Eugene Feingold recommended that the Town Council adopt this policy and direct the town manager’s staff to investigate how to incorporate those types of harassment into the personnel manual.
Please Wait…