HR 6.01pr - Workplace Civility and Respect : Procedure

SUMMARY/SCOPE
Maintaining a culture of respect and civility in the workplace is key to a successful work and classroom environment. A culture of civility and respect improves morale and fosters productivity and enhances learning.

DESCRIPTION
Each member of Edmonds College is expected to treat other community members with civility and respect, recognizing that disagreement and informed debate are valued in an academic community.

Demeaning, intimidating, threatening, bullying, or violent behaviors that affect the ability to learn, work, or live in the college environment depart from the standard for civility and respect. These behaviors have no place in the academic community.

PROCEDURE DETAILS
As members of Edmonds College, staff, faculty, and students are expected to interact with each other with respect and consideration. When a college community member’s conduct varies from this expectation, it is the responsibility of the manager, director, department chair, or dean who supervises the person engaging in the inappropriate conduct to address it. Inappropriate conduct covers a broad range of behavior from rude, obnoxious, bullying behavior to threats of violence. The level of danger in the behavior determines the action the supervisor should take. Members of the college community who witness uncivil behavior may report the behavior to a supervisor or college official or submit an incident report via the Edmonds College website.

Disrespect must not be confused with legitimate comments and/or advice (including relevant negative comments and feedback) from or to managers and supervisors on work performance or work-related behavior of an individual or group. Feedback on work performance or work-related behavior differs from harassment in that feedback is intended to assist employees to improve work performance or the standard of their behavior. However, even the most serious criticism or negative feedback should be delivered respectfully, privately, and courteously.

College employees will not engage in behavior that embarrasses, intimidates, or humiliates others–or which a reasonable person would find embarrassing, intimidating, or humiliating. Examples of these behaviors may include but are not limited to:

Screaming or yelling
Sarcasm with an apparent intent to humiliate
Arrogance or condescending behaviors or comments
Insubordination
Retaliatory actions
Derogatory epithet
Email or social media comments or behaviors that publicly or privately degrade, intimidate, or humiliate members of the college community

Additionally, visitors, vendors, contractors, and the families of college members are required to display appropriate conduct at all times. Noncompliant behavior may lead to removal from the campus.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION:

As any first step to resolving workplace issues, initial concerns shall be addressed informally and privately between employees one-on-one and/or with the assistance of their supervisor.

The Human Resources Office can provide individuals with advice and strategies to attempt to resolve these informally between or among employees and with their supervisors.

If an employee’s behaviors persist, college employees should initiate complaints formally (in writing) or informally with the appropriate administrator of the employee’s operational unit. Complaints about peers should be presented to the concerned employee’s immediate supervisor. Complaints about managers should be presented to the concerned employee’s operational President’s Leadership Team member.

Copies of any written complaints and responses shall be sent to the head of Human Resources. Initial violations of these procedures will usually result in an informal investigation or inquiry; any issues may be managed through an employee’s performance evaluation process before any discipline will be considered. However, severe or multiple violations of these procedures may result in the application of progressive discipline in an effort to correct the behavior.

For additional guidance on identifying potential threatening or violent behavior and for the best ways to deal with these incidents, contact Human Resources (for employees) or the Student Conduct Officer (for students), or Campus Safety and Security (for visitors).

A member of the college community who displays inappropriate conduct is subject to disciplinary action. The college may impose sanctions on students and employees who violate the Workplace Civility and Respect Policy (HR 6.0), consistent with appropriate college policies and collective bargaining agreements.

Exempt employee – after an investigation, the college will determine whether disciplinary action needs to be taken with the employee; based on the severity of the behavior, an oral warning up to possible termination may be taken with the employee.

Classified employee – the collective bargaining agreement will be followed.

Faculty member – the collective bargaining agreement will be followed.

Student – the Student Code of Conduct will be followed.

GLOSSARY TERMS
Uncivil Conduct

RELATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
HR 6.0 Workplace Civility and Respect

SS 1.0 Student Code of Conduct

Faculty CBA July 1, 2016-June 30, 2019

Classified CBA July 1, 2019-June 30, 2021

SOURCE INFORMATION
(was) C 6.5.600 Workplace Civility and Respect Policy

CONTENT OWNER. The primary responsibility for this policy belongs to:
Vice President for Human Resources and Operations

PRIMARY CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR (Director/Dean)
Vice President for Human Resources and Operations

REVIEW PERIOD
Three years.

REVIEW HISTORY
2021-Oct 20 Amended to update content owner and contributor

2019-Sep 30 Revisions approved by President’s Leadership Team

2017-Jan 09 Approved by President’s Cabinet

2009-Apr 20 Revisions approved by President’s Cabinet