4.7 – Sexual Harassment Policy
It is the goal of Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired to maintain a positive work environment for its employees. It is the Board of Regents approved policy that no staff member may sexually harass another. Any staff member found in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary measures.
Harassment on the basis of sex is a violation of Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Sexual harassment, considered by law to be a form of sex discrimination, is also prohibited under Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments.
Definition - Discrimination because of sex includes harassment. Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature when:
Submission to such conduct or communication is explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment;
Submission to or rejection of such conduct or communication by an individual serves as a basis for employment;
Such conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive employment environment. Such environment may be created by the following and other such forms of harassment:
Verbal harassment may include suggestive or insulting sounds, humor and jokes about sex or gender specific traits, sexual innuendo, sexual propositions, insults, direct or implied threats regarding evaluations, letters of recommendations, etc., expressing double-entendre remarks.
Non-verbal harassment may include posters, lewd and pornographic materials, calendars, cartoons, leering, obscene gestures.
Physical harassment may include touching, pinching, brushing the body, coerced sexual intercourse, assault, attempted kissing and fondling, and/or blocking movement.
Any staff members who feel their employment or work environments are jeopardized or compromised by another staff member under these guidelines may wish to use the grievance procedures as outlined.
All new faculty and staff shall have the sexual harassment policy and grievance procedure explained to them during orientation to the job. Students, where appropriate, shall receive their orientation during their first week of school in the fall.
Approved by Board of Regents 3/21/1990,
Revised 02/1991