Lise Kaye LEG Respectful Workplace RES D4m 1 CITY OF SEATTLE 2 RESOLUTION __________________ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ..title A RESOLUTION supporting a safe and responsive workplace in The City of Seattle’s Legislative Department and providing guidance to update Legislative Department Policies, including POL-LD-100 on Workplace Expectations. ..body WHEREAS, the City Council is committed to a legislative workplace environment that is safe, 10 respectful, and free from unsolicited, unwelcome, and inappropriate comments, conduct 11 or physical contact; and 12 WHEREAS, discrimination and harassing behaviors disrupt the workplace, are often unlawful, 13 create a culture of fear and intimidation that can result in serious physical and 14 psychological health problems, and detract from the effectiveness of City staff and 15 officials in conducting the important work we do on behalf of Seattle residents; and 16 WHEREAS, a City-wide Inter-Departmental Team was created in 2018 to address issues of 17 harassment and intimidation, and the Team quickly and inclusively and issued 18 recommendations in July 2018; and 19 WHEREAS, House Concurrent Resolution 4401, adopting a Code of Conduct for the 20 Washington State Legislature, was signed into law in February 2019 to address respectful 21 workplace issues; and 22 23 24 25 WHEREAS, the City’s Legislative Department seeks to be a leader in best practices and inclusive policy-making for its constituents and its staff; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds effective policy and procedures, coupled with training on respectful workplace behavior, will assist in preventing harassment and supporting Template last revised November 13, 2018 1 Lise Kaye LEG Respectful Workplace RES D4m 1 individuals who are being harassed to come forward to have their concerns addressed 2 quickly, effectively, confidentially, and respectfully; and 3 WHEREAS, Legislative Department Policy POL-LD-100 describes the Legislative 4 Department’s general expectations pertaining to workplace behavior; NOW, 5 THEREFORE, 6 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT: 7 Section 1. The City Council expects that, as stewards of the public trust, each member of 8 the Legislative Department (including employees and elected and appointed officials) and its 9 contractors will: 10 A. Conduct themselves with self-awareness, self-respect, and professionalism; 11 B. Treat all others with respect, dignity, and civility, regardless of status or position; and 12 C. Refrain from engaging in hostile, intimidating, offensive, or unlawful activities or 13 behaviors that may amount to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or bullying1. 14 Section 2. In interactions with Council constituents, members of the Legislative 15 Department should be treated with respect and should not be subjected to inappropriate or 16 offensive language. The Council is also committed to protecting Legislative Department 17 employees from unlawful harassment by members of the public. 18 Section 3. The City Council creates an internal department working group (hereafter 19 “working group”) to review by September 1, 2019, and as needed thereafter, Legislative 20 Department Policy POL-LD-100 – Workplace Expectations, and any related Department Policies 21 with respect to: (a) the conduct and treatment of its employees, temporary workers, volunteers, 1 The Workplace Bullying Institute defined bullying in its 2014 National Survey as repeated mistreatment; abusive conduct that is: threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, work sabotage, or verbal abuse. Source: https://www.workplacebullying.org/wbiresearch/wbi-2014-us-survey/ Template last revised November 13, 2018 2 Lise Kaye LEG Respectful Workplace RES D4m 1 and interns, as well as elected officials and members of City-appointed boards, commissions, 2 committees, public development authorities, and review panels and its contractors, (b) definitions 3 of unacceptable behaviors, including guidelines for constituent interactions; and (c) applicable 4 complaint/investigation processes and enforcement mechanisms. 5 A. The working group shall be comprised of the Human Resources/Finance Division 6 director, the Central Staff deputy director, the City Clerk or designee, the Director of 7 Communication or designee, a representative from the Council President’s office, and three non- 8 managerial staff from the Legislative Department appointed by the Council President. The City 9 Auditor, Hearing Examiner, and the Deputy Inspector General or their designees shall be invited 10 as optional members of the working group. The City Attorney’s Office shall also be invited to 11 participate in the working group, as well as review the updated Department policies. 12 B. The Legislative Department’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) Change Team 13 shall be invited to review and comment on any proposed changes to the Department Policies 14 prior to transmittal to the working group. 15 C. The working group shall be facilitated by a neutral third party, who shall guide the 16 working group’s review of Legislative Department Policy POL-LD-100 – Workplace 17 Expectations and any related Department policies, facilitate discussion of potential policy 18 changes, and facilitate feedback from the RSJI Change Team and the working group on updated 19 draft policies as prepared by the Legislative Department’s Human Resources/Finance Division 20 director. 21 Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2019, 22 and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of 23 _________________________, 2019. Template last revised November 13, 2018 3 Lise Kaye LEG Respectful Workplace RES D4m 1 ____________________________________ 2 President ____________ of the City Council 3 Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2019. 4 ____________________________________ 5 Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk 6 (Seal) Template last revised November 13, 2018 4